[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 123, 111th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8362--APR. 17, 2009

Proclamation 8362 of April 17, 2009
National Park Week, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

America's National Parks are among our Nation's most precious treasures.
During National Park Week, we celebrate these spaces and commit to
protecting them for future generations of Americans.
National Parks bring together Americans of all backgrounds and help us
understand the story of America. From the Lincoln Memorial and Ellis
Island to the Great Smoky Mountains and Yellowstone, National

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Parks attract visitors from across the country and from all walks of
life. The grandeur and simplicity of these areas inspire visitors no
matter their personal stories. National Parks also help Americans learn
more about our shared history. From the Prehistoric Trackways National
Monument to the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, National Parks
allow Americans to explore our Nation's past and to understand events
that occurred over the long course of our history.
Our system of National Parks is entrusted to each generation of
Americans. We have an obligation to our children to keep these spaces
pristine. As citizen stewards, Americans can participate in efforts in
their communities to preserve National Parks, and support policies that
achieve this end. My Administration continues to advocate for
initiatives that protect and expand National Parks. The American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act promotes conservation and creates new job
opportunities in National Parks, and the Omnibus Public Land Management
Act designates thousands of miles of trails for the National Trails
System, protects more than 1,000 miles of rivers, and secures millions
of acres of wilderness.
This week we also honor the committed professionals and volunteers
working every day to support the National Parks. Laboring among towering
mountains and broad plains, in city centers, and along our rivers and
seashores, these Americans deserve thanks for their contributions to
current and future generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 18 through April
26, 2009, as National Park Week. I invite all my fellow citizens to join
me in commemorating the 2009 theme for National Park Week, ``National
and Community Service,'' and to visit these wonderful spaces, discover
all they have to offer, and become active participants in Park
conservation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.
BARACK OBAMA