WHEREAS, the bald eagle was designated as the United States’ National Emblem on June 20, 1782, by our country’s Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle is unique to North America and represents such American values and attributes as freedom, courage, strength, spirit, justice, quality and excellence; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle is the central image used in the Great Seal of the United States and in the logos of many branches of the federal government, including the Presidential Seal, the U.S. Congress, Defense Department, Treasury Department, Justice Department, State Department, Department of Commerce and U.S. Postal Service; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle’s image, meaning and symbolism have played a significant role in the beliefs, traditions, religions, lifestyles and heritage of Americans from all walks of life, including U.S. military service men/women, American Indians, Christians, and members of various civic, fraternal, patriotic, veterans, youth, conservation, educational, outdoors, nature, sportsman, wildlife, political and sports organizations; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle’s image, meaning and symbolism have played a significant role in American art, music, literature, architecture, commerce, education, culture and on U.S. stamps, currency and coinage; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle once was facing possible extinction, and is making a gradual and encouraging comeback to America’s skies; and

        WHEREAS, the bald eagle was federally classified as an “endangered species” in the lower 48 States under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and was upgraded to less-imperiled “threatened” status under that Act in 1995; and

        WHEREAS, the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plan to de-list the bald eagle from Endangered Species Act protection in 2007, but will continue protecting them under the Bald & Golden Eagle Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; and

        WHEREAS, the recovery of America’s bald eagle population was largely accomplished due to the vigilant efforts of numerous caring agencies, corporations, organizations and citizens

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “Butch” Otter, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2007, to be

AMERICAN EAGLE DAY

in Idaho, and I encourage all United States citizens to join us in supporting the majestic bald eagle’s continuing recovery and the protection of its precious natural habitat, and in commemorating the living and symbolic presence of our National Bird.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 8th day of June in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE