It is proper that we celebrate America's forests, which provide us with a link to our past, a thriving ecosystem, and indispensable resources that are vital to our economy.
Trees are one of the symbols of our culture.
Our traditions speak of the Tree of Life, just as Thomas Paine spoke of the Tree of Liberty. Paul Bunyan and Babe made their living in the forest, and Huck Finn used trees to make his wooden raft to ride down the Mississippi River on his great American adventure. Today, a walk through the woods or a city park reminds us of our country's special ties to the land we inherited. Our trees are valuable protectors of our ecosystem. On Arbor Day, we also recognize those whose lives and livelihoods are intertwined with our forests.