Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/1331

 PROCLAMATION 4893—JAN. 28, 1982

96 STAT. 2693

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixth. RONALD REAGAN

Proclamation 4893 of January 28, 1982

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Bicentennial Year of the American Bald Eagle and National Bald Eagle Day By the President of the United States of America ^ A Proclamation Whether silhouetted against the sky on a rocky pinnacle in Alaska or soaring majestically overhead in Florida, the bald eagle is admired as one of nature's most spectacular creatures. To catch a glimpse of this majestic raptore is to understand why the Founding Fathers chose it to represent the strength and courage of our great Nation. Its grace and power in flight, its vigilance and loyalty in defending its family group, and, most of all, its courage make the eagle a proud and appropriate symbol for the United States. Its presence on the Great Seal of the United States—one talon extending the olive branch of peace, the other brandishing the arrows of defense—is a symbol of friendship and cooperation to our allies and a warning to our adversaries that we are not to be trod upon. No one is certain what the original United States population of the bird was, although it may have approached 75,000-100,000. We do know, however, that its extinction has become a disheartening possibility in recent years. We have sought to prevent that possibility by restricting the use of certain pesticides. Shooting and habitat destruction are also being brought under control as a result of protection and conservation programs conducted under the Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Sci- 16 USC 668-668d. entists believe we are now beginning to see a subtle but definite population ^^^^SC 1531 increase through the cooperative efforts of Federal and State fish and wild- note. Hfe agencies, conservation and industrial groups, scientists, and private citizens. These efforts are truly indicative of the spirit of cooperation and perseverance which is at the very heart of our national character. On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle became our Nation's symbol and national bird. As we approach the bicentennial anniversary of that event, we have an excellent opportunity to pause and reflect upon the importance of the bald eagle, indeed of all our fish and wildlife resources, to a healthy America. On this occasion, let us renew our commitment and dedication to the conservation of our natural heritage as symbohzed by the bald eagle. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress (S.J. Res. 121), do hereby proclaim June 20, 1982 as "National Bald Eagle Day" and 95 Stat. 1715. designate the year 1982 as the "Bicentennial Year of the American Bald Eagle." I call upon the people of the United States to join in these observances with appropriate activities in their homes and communities.

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