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National Duck Stamp Week, Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp [1984]
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311003162
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National Duck Stamp Week, Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp [1984]
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Records of the White House Correspondence Office
Proclamations Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Correspondence, White House Office of:
Records, 1981-89
Folder Title: National Duck Stamp Week, Golden
Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp
Box: Box 75(1984)
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/dijgitized-textual-material
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Inventories, visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research-
support/citation-guide
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Last Updated: 05/3/2023
THE UNITED THE STATES. do SEAL
National Duck Stamp Week
Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp, 1984
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Among our most cherished wildlife resources are migratory waterfowl. The ducks, geese, and
swans of North America not only fascinate us with their beauty and spectacle, they remind us
of the continuing values of a clean, safe, wholesome environment. The health of our waterfowl
resources depends on the well-being of their environment. If the Nation's wetlands are lost,
these birds and the many other fish and wildlife resources they support cannot thrive. In
recognition of the vital link between wildlife and wetlands, the United States has created an
extensive system of National Wildlife Refuges. This great array of wild lands and waters
provides countless opportunities for our waterfowl to nest and feed. We have so many of
these refuges to enjoy today because of the farsighted practices of successive generations of
Americans.
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp
Act. To implement this law, the first Duck Stamp was issued later that year. The Duck Stamp
was the creation of Jay N. "Ding" Darling, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and pioneer
conservationist. It was his idea that every waterfowl hunter in this country had a vital stake
in wetland and waterfowl conservation and that each should share in the responsibility to
maintain that wildlife tradition they held so dear.
In the 50 years that have passed since the introduction of the Duck Stamp, it has become one
of the Nation's most successful conservation programs. Almost 90 million of the stamps have
been sold, generating more than $285 million for waterfowl conservation. All or part of 186
National Wildlife Refuges-a total of 3.5 million acres-have been acquired through Duck
Stamp revenues.
In the last 50 years, Americans have become increasingly aware that wetlands provide
essential habitat for ducks and geese and contribute significantly to other wildlife resources
including endangered species, open space recreation, commercial and sport fisheries, flood
control, groundwater recharge and water purification. A recent study by the Department of
the Interior concluded that the United States is losing wetlands at the pace of nearly one-half
million acres every year, an area the size of the State of Rhode Island. Clearly, the Duck
Stamp program is as important today as it was in 1934.
In recognition of the contributions of the Duck Stamp program, the Congress, by Senate Joint
Resolution 270, has designated the week of July 1 through July 8, 1984, as "National Duck
Stamp Week" and 1984 as "Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp" and authorized and
requested the President to issue an appropriate proclamation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do
hereby proclaim the week of July 1 through July 8, 1984, as National Duck Stamp Week and
1984 as the Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp. I urge all Americans to observe
these occasions with appropriate ceremonies and events, including participating in this
program.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of July, in the year of our
Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagon