124 STAT. 4610 PROCLAMATION 8497—APR. 12, 2010 also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and orga- nizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activi- ties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclamation 8497 of April 12, 2010 Honoring the Victims of the Montcoal, West Virginia, Mine Disaster By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As a mark of respect for the memory of those who perished in the mine explosion in Montcoal, West Virginia, I hereby order, by the au- thority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds and at all military facili- ties and naval stations of the Federal Government in the State of West Virginia until sunset on April 18, 2010. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclamation 8498 of April 16, 2010 National Park Week, 2010 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As a Nation, we have a responsibility to protect America’s natural re- sources and noteworthy landmarks. During National Park Week, we celebrate the diversity, beauty, and history found in our National Park System. For nearly 100 years, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service (NPS) to care for the places that fuel our spirit and define our character. By safeguarding our Nation’s historical parks, sites, and monuments, NPS in turn preserves our rich culture and heritage. From the first glimpses of hope at the Statue of Liberty to the harrowing Bat- tle of Gettysburg and the quest for freedom on the Underground Rail- road, countless American stories are enshrined in these sites. By vis-
