Bill Clinton

“ Despite the critical importance of our forests, we have not always been diligent stewards of our inheritance. Not long after the Civil War, our ancestors realized that the need for wood products was placing too great a demand on our forests. And in 1872, concerned residents of the State of Nebraska came together on the first Arbor Day to look to the future and preserve America's forests for our generation and the ones yet to come. As we approach the 21st century, we must rededicate ourselves to a forest policy that sustains a strong forest economy and a healthy ecosystem. ”

“ Our trees are valuable protectors of our ecosystem. They provide a thriving habitat for animal and plant life; their roots curb soil erosion; their leaves freshen our air by providing oxygen; and their branches shelter us from the sun and the wind.
On Arbor Day, we also recognize those whose lives and livelihoods are intertwined with our forests. Generations of Americans have depended on forests for the lumber to build houses and the fuel to heat their homes. ”

“ Our traditions speak of the Tree of Life, just as Thomas Paine spoke of the Tree of Liberty. Paul Bunyan and Babe made their living in the forest, and Huck Finn used trees to make his wooden raft to ride down the Mississippi River on his great American adventure. Today, a walk through the woods or a city park reminds us of our country's special ties to the land we inherited. ”