Last month, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation recognizing September 2009 National Wilderness Month. He auspiciously chose to proclaim this honor 45 years to the day that the Wilderness Act was signed into law — September 3, 1964. Please take a moment to thank the president for raising national awareness of the importance of protecting wilderness.
“The American wilderness has inspired wonder and imagination for centuries and is an irreplaceable part of our Nation's heritage,” President Obama noted in his proclamation. “This month, we celebrate this history and renew our commitment to preserving the American wilderness for future generations.”
President Obama demonstrated his commitment to protecting these lands early in his administration, by signing the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which designated over two million acres of wilderness from coast to coast.
"Over the past 45 years, the Congress has enacted numerous laws extending wilderness protection to vast swaths of public lands," the president continues. "These laws have enjoyed bipartisan support. Ranchers and anglers, small-business owners and conservationists, and Americans of diverse backgrounds have come together to preserve many of our Nation's most cherished public spaces."
National Wilderness Month was greeted with enthusiasm by Americans from all parts of the country, and inspired many to answer the president’s call “to visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, learn more about our wilderness heritage, and explore what can be done to protect and preserve these precious national treasures.” Please thank President Obama for giving our American Wilderness the recognition and attention it merits.
Visit our website to read the proclamation text delivered by President Obama to recognize September 2009 as National Wilderness Month.
