123STA T . 3 6 2 9PROCL A M AT I O N8 363 — APR. 21 , 2 0 09 Parks a t tra c t vi sit o rs f ro m across t he co un tr y an d from a l l w alks of life .T he g randeur and sim p licity of these areas inspire visitors no matter their personal stories. N ational Parks also help A mericans learn more a b out our shared history. F rom the Prehistoric Trackways National M onument to the C ivil W ar battlefield at G ettysburg , National Parks allow Americans to e x plore our Nation ’ s past and to understand events that occurred over the long course of our history. O ur system of National Parks is entrusted to each generation of Ameri - cans. We have an obligation to our children to keep these spaces pris- tine. As citi z en stewards, Americans can participate in efforts in their communities to preserve National Parks, and support policies that achieve this end. My Administration continues to advocate for initia- tives that protect and expand National Parks. The American R ecovery and Reinvestment Act promotes conservation and creates new j ob op- portunities in National Parks, and the Omnibus Public L and Manage- ment Act designates thousands of miles of trails for the National Trails S ystem, protects more than 1 , 0 00 miles of rivers, and secures millions of acres of wilderness. This week we also honor the committed professionals and volunteers working every day to support the National Parks. Laboring among tow- ering mountains and broad plains, in city centers, and along our rivers and seashores, these Americans deserve thanks for their contributions to current and future generations. NOW, T HE REFORE, I , B ARAC K OBAMA, President of the U nited States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 1 8 through April 26 , 200 9 , as National Park Week. I invite all my fel- low citizens to join me in commemorating the 2009 theme for National Park Week, ‘ ‘National and Community Service,’’ and to visit these wonderful spaces, discover all they have to offer, and become active participants in Park conservation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n836 3o fAp ril 21, 2 0 0 9Nation a lV ol u nt e e rW ee k,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Our Nation’s story begins with a call to volunteer. Confronting the in- justices of tyranny and small odds of victory, patriots rallied one an- other to serve a cause greater than themselves. As the beneficiaries of this legacy, we possess an obligation to volunteer and serve our fellow citizens with similar selflessness and optimism. Americans keep this proud tradition alive every day across our coun- try. They are protecting us in uniform, feeding the hungry, tutoring
