[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8553--AUG. 31, 2010

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

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visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about their vast history,
and to aid in the protection of our precious national treasures.
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.
BARACK OBAMA