June 7, 2017 — COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The George H. W.
Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, was honored
with a national Bronze Smokey Bear Award today during the Southern Group of State Foresters
annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas.
Throughout 2015, the Bush Library and Museum hosted the
exhibit “History in the Making: Texas A&M Forest Service.” The exhibit was
a six-month tribute to the state forestry agency’s past, present and future.
Woven throughout was a prominent wildfire prevention message.
“It was an important story for us to share with our visitors,”
said Warren Finch, Director of the Bush Library and Museum. “In the state
of Texas, forest management is vital to the preservation of the state’s natural
resources and wildlife. Part of this management is the control of wildfires
that can destroy thousands of acres of forest, much of it unique, such as the
Lost Pines Forest near Bastrop. These fires can endanger the lives and property
of Texans.”
The award to the Bush Library and Museum was allocated based
on the scope, duration and reach of their wildfire prevention campaign.
More than 100,000 people visited the exhibit and attended
associated events throughout the year, including the Fire Prevention and Safety
Family Festival, the children’s summer camps and the evening lecture series.
Smokey attended each regularly-scheduled holiday celebration that year and his
wildfire prevention message was integrated into the museum’s public outreach
programs.
“Partnering with organizations who share our mission is key
to successful outreach,” said Karen Stafford, Texas A&M Forest Service Wildfire
Prevention Coordinator. “Because we know we are stronger together.”
Museum staff were instrumental in developing, promoting and
coordinating the prevention events, working with four local municipal fire
departments, two municipal police departments, the Texas A&M University
Police Department, Texas A&M University, the Lions Club, the Civil Air
Patrol, the City of Bryan Coulter Air Field and Texas A&M University
students.
“It is an honor that the museum staff embraced Texas A&M
Forest Service’s milestone year, framed it up with Smokey and then powerfully
displayed it on a national stage – the George Bush Presidential Library and
Museum,” said Stafford. “For this, we congratulate
them on forwarding this message and earning the Bronze Smokey Bear Award.”
The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum was
one of five national Smokey Bear Award winners this year. For more information
and to see a list of all the award recipients, please visit www.smokeybear.com/awards.
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About the Smokey Bear Awards
The Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention
(CFFP) Program, the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State
Foresters (NASF), and the Ad Council sponsor the national Smokey Bear Awards to
recognize outstanding service in the prevention of human caused wildfires and increase
public recognition and awareness of the need for continuing wildfire prevention
efforts. The Smokey Bear Awards are the highest national honor one can receive
for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire prevention.
This merit award has been bestowed on well-deserving groups and individuals
annually since 1957.
Contacts
Karen Stafford, Texas A&M Forest Service WUI & Prevention
Coordinator, 936-545-6991,kstafford@tfs.tamu.edu
David Anaya, George
H. W. Bush Presidential
Library and Museum Director
of Marketing and Communications,
979-691-4069,
david.anaya@nara.gov
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu