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Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates National Park Service Centennial
AUGUST 25, 2016 at 11:57 p.m.
By Jeaneane Payne



national park celebration
More than 300 national park employees and dignitaries attended a celebration of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. Image by Jeaneane Payne.

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrated the 100th birthday of the National Park Service today during a special Founders Day Lunch Event for employees, partners, and community leaders. The lunch was hosted by the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Council, Friends of the Smokies, and Great Smoky Mountains Association. Over 340 employees who dedicate themselves daily to preserving and protecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park were recognized at the event.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations.” The celebration of that moment began in early 2015 when the National Park Service began encouraging people to “Find Your Park.” Great Smoky Mountains National Park has carried the Find Your Park Theme throughout the year by initiating special park centennial programs and participating in over 70 community events which have provided an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation’s natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Dignitaries attending included US Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), US Congressman Phil Roe (TN), US Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ), Park Superintendent Cassius Cash, National Parks Conservation Association Regional Director, Don Barger, Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Chairman, Leon Downey along with current and former National Park Service employees.

Park Headquarters Lawn in Gatlinburg was filled with hundreds of park employees, dignitaries, and some people who used to live inside the park. Live bluegrass music and a luncheon for park employees were part of the celebration.

“We’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service here in the Great Smoky Mountains by encouraging people to participate in several programs," said Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. "One of those programs is to get people to hike 100 miles throughout the park this year. More than 450 people have completed that hike, thus far. "

“The communities of Tennessee, North Carolina and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have worked together to make tourism in the national park a success.”

“More than 312 million people have visited our national parks last year,” said Superintendent Cash. “That is more than the NBA, NFL, NHL, NASCAR, and Disney put together, and we did it on the budget of Austin, Texas.”

Senator Lamar Alexander recalled memories of his childhood in the park. “I remember as a 15 year old boy my dad dropping me and two of my friends off at Newfound Gap the day after Christmas. He said ‘I’ll see you in Gatlinburg this afternoon.’ So me and my buddies made it to Gatlinburg by afternoon in two feet of snow.”

Congressman Donald Norcross said his mother was born in Laurel Valley near Townsend, grew up in the area, and graduated from Gatlinburg High School.

Also in attendance at the celebration were former Governor Don Sundquist and former park superintendents Dale Ditmanson and Randy Pope.

Published August 25, 2016










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