[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 121, 110th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

121 STAT. 2733
 
PROCLAMATION 8131--APR. 20, 2007


Proclamation 8131 of April 20, 2007
National Park Week, 2007
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Americans take great pride in our country's natural beauty, and our
Nation is blessed to have a park system of more than 80 million acres
that belongs to us all. During National Park Week, we underscore our
dedication to conserving these national treasures, and we pay tribute to
the dedicated employees and volunteers of the National Park Service who
care for them.
Established in 1916, the National Park Service now oversees a National
Park System that has grown to include almost 400 sites, with parks in
nearly every State. These parks protect beautiful landscapes, tell
important stories about our country's past, and encourage our citizens
to conserve our natural environment and celebrate our national history.
They are places to learn, exercise, and spend time with family and
friends. Through her work with the Junior Rangers and the National Park
Foundation, First Lady Laura Bush and others are working to expand
access to the riches of our parks.
In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in
2016, my Administration has launched the National Parks Centennial
Initiative. The initiative calls upon government, the private sector,
and our citizenry to share in an effort to help prepare our parks for
another century of conservation, preservation, and enjoyment. We will
work to enhance park habitats, expand visitor services, increase
educational opportunities, implement new technologies, and hire
additional seasonal park rangers. By maintaining and improving our park
system, we can ensure that our national parks will thrive for the next
100 years and beyond.
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 22 through April 29,
2007, as National Park Week. This year's theme is ``Your National Parks:
Explore, Learn, and Protect.''; I invite all my fellow citizens to join
me in celebrating America's national parks by visiting these wonderful
spaces, discovering all they have to offer, and becoming active
participants in park conservation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
first.
GEORGE W. BUSH