[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 54455-54456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22430]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 54455]]


                Proclamation 8553 of August 31, 2010

                
National Wilderness Month, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                For centuries, the American spirit of exploration and 
                discovery has led us to experience the majesty of our 
                Nation's wilderness. From raging rivers to serene 
                prairies, from mountain peaks slicing the skyline to 
                forests teeming with life, our Nation's landscapes have 
                provided wonder, inspiration, and strength to all 
                Americans. Many sites continue to hold historical, 
                cultural, and religious significance for Indian tribes, 
                the original stewards of this continent. We must 
                continue to preserve and protect these scenic places 
                and the life that inhabits them so they may be 
                rediscovered and appreciated by generations to come.

                As we celebrate America's abundance of diverse lands, 
                remarkable wildlife, and untamed beauty during National 
                Wilderness Month, we also look back on our rich history 
                of conservation. It was over 100 years ago that 
                President Theodore Roosevelt marveled at the stark 
                grandeur of the Grand Canyon and declared, ``the ages 
                have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.'' 
                Since that time, administrations have worked across 
                party lines to defend America's breathtaking natural 
                sites. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 
                Wilderness Act in 1964, and many Presidents have since 
                added new places to this great network of protected 
                lands so that millions of acres of forests, monuments, 
                and parks will be preserved for our children and 
                grandchildren.

                Following in the footsteps of my predecessors, I signed 
                the Omnibus Public Land Management Act last year to 
                restore and protect more of our cherished wild spaces. 
                In April of this year, I established the America's 
                Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a community-based 
                21st century conservation agenda that can also spur job 
                creation in the tourism and recreation industries. My 
                Administration will continue to work closely with our 
                State, local, and tribal partners to connect Americans 
                with the great outdoors.

                This month, we renew our pledge to build upon the 
                legacy of our forebears. Together, we must ensure that 
                future generations can experience the tranquility and 
                grandeur of America's natural places. As we resolve to 
                meet this responsibility, let us also reflect on the 
                ways in which our lives have been enriched by the gift 
                of the American wilderness.

                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 September 2010 as 
                National Wilderness Month. I invite all Americans to 
                visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about 
                their vast history, and to aid in the protection of our 
                precious national treasures.

[[Page 54456]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2010-22430
Filed 9-3-10; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W0-P