Protecting America's Treasures
While visiting the White House, would you take a piece of silverware home for a keepsake? How about tearing off a piece of the Declaration of Independence? Or spray painting your name on the Statue of Liberty?
Similar actions sometimes take place in our National Parks. Picking wildflowers, taking home stones or arrowheads as keepsakes, and defacing canyon walls with graffiti are all actions that degrade the parks for other visitors. In addition, it’s against the law.
When you visit any of the sites run by the National Park Service, you are viewing America’s treasures. These parks were created because they have special meaning to all Americans. The laws that created these special places for us to own and enjoy also mandate they be protected for the enjoyment of future generations of Americans as well.
Visiting any of our national parks is similar to visiting museums or art galleries. You certainly wouldn’t think of taking an artifact or painting home from such places. Removing anything from our National Parks means that other visitors will not be able to enjoy it. If each of the 275 million visitors took away a flower or a stone or anything from the parks they visit, they would leave behind empty landscapes that nobody would enjoy.
Help protect America’s National Park sites by leaving everything in its place and not defacing the natural resources. Other park visitors and future generations of Americans will thank you.
