Congresswoman Jackie Speier (San Francisco/San Mateo County) testifies today  before the House Natural Resources Committee.  Speier’s bill, H.R. 4491, authorizes the National Park Service to study the role the African American regiments played in establishing the National Park System and to honor their legacy.

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to begin to tell the world of the momentous contribution the Buffalo Soldiers have made to our country,” said Congresswoman Speier.   “It is fitting, during Black History Month, that we take the first steps towards the rightful recognition of these soldiers.   They were truly the first guardians of our National Parks, blazing the trails, building the roads and protecting the lands for visitors – they helped make the vision for our National Parks a reality.”

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Back in January of 2009 I had the pleasure of speaking to Ken Burns. He sat with me for an interview about his new film “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” Premiering September 27th on PBS television stations this documentary reveals in stunning detail some amazing historical facts. But what came out of that conversation was an awareness for legacy people of color played in the creation of some my favorite wild and scenic places.

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“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”

David Attenborough ~ British broadcaster and naturalist (1926- )

Photo by James Edward Mills

“Stand still. The trees ahead and bush beside you are not lost.”

Albert Einstein ~ German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 (1879-1955)

Photo by James Edward Mills