[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7772 of April 16, 2004


 
National Park Week, 2004


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation
Our system of national parks is entrusted to each generation of
Americans. By practicing good management and being faithful stewards of
the land, our generation can show that we are worthy of that trust.
During National Park Week, we renew our commitment to caring for these
treasured natural resources.
God designed our lands to be beautiful, but we must ensure God's beauty
is maintained and conserved. Our citizens depend on our dedicated
National Park Service employees and their volunteer partners to fulfill
this important mission. In 2001 and 2002, volunteers contributed

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millions of hours of service to our parks by clearing trails, repairing
facilities, leading education programs, and assisting visitors. This
year's National Park Week theme, ``Partners in Stewardship,'';
encourages all Americans to join these volunteer partners in helping to
look after our nearly 400 national park areas.
The Federal Government is investing more in its national parks now than
at any time in its history. To help restore our national parks, my
Administration proposed $4.9 billion in funding over 5 years on needed
maintenance and repairs. We have undertaken hundreds of vital park
maintenance projects and are planning and executing hundreds more. We
are also using a new system of inventory and assessment to identify
facilities needing improvements and to measure those improvements as
they are implemented.
Our citizens own America's parks, historic sites, battlefields,
recreation areas, monuments, and shores, and we want these lands to be
accessible and enjoyable for them to visit. We must respect our natural,
cultural, and recreational heritage and conserve our parks for future
generations. Park maintenance is critical to achieving each of these
goals. By modernizing trail systems, we make it possible for people to
fully appreciate these remarkable places. By maintaining buildings,
roads, and campsites, we ensure our parks remain sources of pride for
our citizens, our communities, and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 18 through April 25,
2004, as National Park Week. I call upon the people of the United States
to join me in recognizing the importance of our national parks and to
learn more about these areas of beauty, their cultural and historical
significance, and the many ways citizens can volunteer to conserve these
precious resources.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH

PROCLAMATION 7773--APR. 16, 2004