By Jim Hines
Greetings Friends:
August is National Parks Month—a great institution to celebrate. The National Park Service was officially created on August 25, 1916. I love being able to advocate and lobby for protection of America's national parks. I guess it is in my genes for my birthday is August 25th as well.
As far back as I can remember my parents and I would celebrate my birthday in one of America's great national park units.
I have so many memories like my first view of Grand Canyon National Park, being amazed in Everglades National Park, marveling at the natural wonders of Denali National Park, being awed at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and feeling a sense of peace in Grand Teton National Park.
And right here in my own backyard we have Channel Islands National Park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
While America's national parks are truly amazing and offer all of us a sense of wonder, great outdoor recreation, wildlife viewing and learning about our history (there are many national historical parks in the system), they are under more threats now than ever.
Threats from the impacts of climate change, threats from increased visitor use and the greatest threat of all, political threats. So many members of the House and Senate who I meet with are openly hostile to the National Park Service and YOUR national parks.
Several years ago for the first time in my life I had a member of congress tell me I was un-American for supporting the "federal land grab" of lands which make up our precious national parks.
I have had friends who are park employees in such hostile-to-national-park states as Utah, Montana and Alaska tell me they have been verbally harassed and seen damage done to park vehicles.
Congressional members are seeking ways to defund national park units such as those which teach Americans about African American and native American history. In the upcoming months many of us will be busy not only visiting national parks but advocating before congressional members about the importance of all units of America's national park system for all Americans and we will be requesting full funding for America's national parks. This will be a challenge.
August 25th is an important date and I will celebrate advocating for our national parks.
Happy Birthday National Park Service and Happy Birthday to me.