WHEREAS, in the comparatively short span of one hundred seventy-nine years of sovereign independence of this state and nation, phenomenal progress has been made in human freedom and welfare; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that this progress in a very large measure has been founded upon and nurtured by the extensive and in some cases, the wasteful use of our vast stores of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, our forebears, in recognition of the benefits and influence of these bountiful gifts upon the lives and fortunes of our people and their responsibilities to *posterity, devised ways and means of communicating to their successors implements of understanding and appreciation of that part of their trusteeship concerned with the perpetuation of forests, trees and birds by providing for the official designation and observance of one day of the year as Arbor and Bird Day; and
WHEREAS, good conservation measures call for the replenishing of our forest lands in order to protect wildlife and make certain that future generations may benefit from our thoughtfulness ; now
THEREFORE, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware, by virtue of the authorization granted me in the Revised Code of Delaware, 1953, do hereby designate and proclaim Friday, April 13, 1956, as
and urge its observance in all public and private schools, colleges and other institutions, by organizations and individuals, by the planting of trees and shrubs for the adornment of public and
private grounds, and by conducting exercises for the purpose of advancing knowledge and appreciation of trees and shrubs, and the protection and encouragement of birds that we as a people may learn to administer wisely and beneficially all natural resources which contribute so much to our individual and collective well-being.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed at Dover, this
(Great Seal) Eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty-six and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and eightieth.