Presidential Documents

24575 

Federal Register 

Vol. 77, No. 80 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8801 of April 20, 2012 

National Park Week, 2012 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

When President Theodore Roosevelt first took office over a century ago, 

he embarked on a tour of the American West that would change his life 

and the life of our Nation forever. He traveled from Yellowstone’s geysers, 

to Yosemite’s granite cliffs, to Dakota’s Badlands, ever moved by the natural 

wonders of which he and all Americans were proud inheritors. As he 

explored wild country, he heard a call to preserve our country’s heritage 

that echoed throughout our forests and river valleys. He remarked of the 

Grand Canyon, ‘‘the ages have been at work on it, and man can only 

mar it.’’ 

From that sense of commitment sprang five National Parks, 18 National 

Monuments, 51 Federal bird reservations, and 150 National Forests. From 

that commitment sprang an effort to save the great Redwoods of California 

and the Petrified Forest of Arizona, the great bird rocks of the Aleutian 

Islands and the Tongass of Alaska. President Roosevelt inspired a breathtaking legacy of conservation that has forever enriched our lives, and in 

the decades since his historic journey, millions have worked to build on 

his enduring mission. When the fate of our lands and waters has been 

cast into doubt, they have taken the long view—that as Americans and 

as inhabitants of this one small planet, it is up to us to preserve our 

national heritage for our children, grandchildren, and for the generations 

to come. 

That spirit drives my Administration today. Since I took office, we have 

set aside more than 2 million acres of Federal wilderness and thousands 

of miles of trails and rivers under the Omnibus Public Land Management 

Act. Last November, I was proud to establish the Fort Monroe National 

Monument, forever enshrining a site of profound historical and cultural 

significance. Today, I designated Fort Ord as a National Monument that 

will not only protect one of the crown jewels of California’s coast—a worldclass destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts— 

but also honor the heroism and dedication of men and women who served 

our Nation during the major conflicts of the 20th century. And with the 

America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, we continue to advance a smarter, more 

community-driven conservation and recreation strategy. We are partnering 

with cities and States to make it easier for families to spend time outside 

no matter where they live, and we are working to create jobs, boost rural 

economies, and increase tourism by enhancing public lands that draw travelers from across the globe. To celebrate National Park Week, all 397 National 

Parks will offer free admission from April 21 through April 29, 2012. I 

encourage every American to visit www.NPS.gov to find a nearby park 

and discover the land passed down to us by our forebears. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told us ‘‘There is nothing so American 

as our National Parks.’’ This week, we honor the uniquely American idea 

behind them: that each of us has an equal share in the land around us, 

and an equal responsibility to protect it. That call to conserve has echoed 

for generations—from Jefferson, to Lincoln, to Roosevelt, to all who have 

done their part to protect the land that they love. It is the call we hear 


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24576 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 25, 2012 / Presidential Documents 

today, and as we come together to celebrate our national heritage, let us 

reaffirm our promise to preserve America’s treasures for the generations 

yet to come. 

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 21 through 

April 29, 2012, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to visit 

their national parks and be reminded of these unique blessings we share 

as a Nation. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day 

of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth. 

[FR Doc. 2012–10099 

Filed 4–24–12; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F2–P 


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