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Revised (Huebner/Hirshfield) JK October 8, 1970 SUGGESTED REMARKS VISIT TO OCEAN SCIENCE CENTER AT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA Background: Georgia is the largest State east of the Mississippi; Savannah is the oldest city in the State and one of the oldest cities in the nation. The President's first visit to Georgia, the twenty-sixth State he has visited since taking office. Skidaway Island is one of the "golden isles of Georgia. 11 There was a time -- in the early years of the country's history - - when these islands were the site for major fortifications against military attack. The facilities which have already been created as part of this ocean science center, as well as the new facility which is to be dedicated today (Note: the building being dedicated has not been built yet) are excellent examples of cooperation between private citizens and various levels of government. Land was contributed by the Union Camp Corporation and the Roebling family. The bridge which will connect the island with the mainland is a Chatham County project. It is the University system of Georgia that runs the center and the new Marine Resources Extension Center which will be built near the site is being funded jointly by the State of Georgia and by the Federal-State Coastal Plains Regional Com- mission. The new Marine Resources Extention Center will be the headquarters for the Marine Extension Program activities on the Georgia coast. It will strengthen considerably the research and educational work of the Ocean Science Center, and thus will help to fill a basic national need. It is a great pleasure to be back in the great State of Georgia. And it is appropriate that we should be in Georgia to talk about and act on one of the most crucial issues of our time: What we must do about our environment Georgia understands the importance of this issue. It is a great agricultural State, a great fishing State, a great commercial State which depends on the seas and on the rivers to move its goods.