Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3745

 123STA T . 3 7 2 5PROCL A M AT I O N84 42 — OCT. 23 , 2 0 0 9andtheof f ic ia ls of all othe r areas u nder the fla g of the U nited S tates too b ser v e United N ations D a yw ith a p propriate cere m onies and activi - ties .I N W I T N E SSW H E R E OF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of A merica the two hundred and thirty-fourth. B ARA CK OBA M A Proclam a ti o n84 4 2 o fO cto be r2 3, 2 0 0 9Nation a lF o res t P ro duc ts W 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 America ’ s forests have helped spur the growth and development that has been indispensable to our Nation’s success. They have provided timber and water, as well as habitat for wildlife and opportunities for recreational activities. As a repository for renewable natural resources, forests have supplied the raw materials that have sustained us through- out our history. During National Forest P roducts Wee k , we recogni z e the value of our woodlands and commit ourselves to good stewardship and conservation practices that help us to responsibly manage our Na- tion’s forests. As a renewable and recyclable resource, wood is one of our Nation’s most environmentally friendly building materials. Wood fiber is used throughout our daily lives, from the paper we write on to the offices where we work. We value the beauty of wood in our furniture, in our homes, and in artwork that surrounds us. Today, modern technology and stewardship practices by Federal, State, tribal, and private land- owners have improved the way we manage our natural resources so that forests can meet the needs of current and future generations. Forests are one of the foundations on which our Nation was formed they are the backbone of our environment. This week, we recognize the value of forest products and the importance of their sustainable use to our lives. To recognize the importance of products from our forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753( 36 U.S.C. 12 3 ) , as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as Na- tional Forest Products Week and has authorized and re q uested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as National Forest Products Week. I call on all Americans to celebrate the varied uses and products of our forested lands, as well as the people who carry on the tradition of care- ful stewardship of these precious natural resources for generations to come.