Okaloosa County BOCC — May 6, 2014 — 5-6-14 Camp Pinchot Day proclamation — reading text

P ROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Camp Pinchot served as the Forest Service Headquarters of the Choctawhatchee National Forest, one of the original eleven designated by President Roosevelt in 1908; and, WHEREAS, establishment of the Choctawhatchee National Forest helped to end the isolation of the area due to the lack of roads, and contributed to the development of the area; and, WHEREAS, the primary purpose of the Forest was to establish conservative turpentining on government timber, Forest personnel were also involved in building County and State roads by providing clay for roadbeds and lumber for bridges; and, WHEREAS, the heart of the foresters’ work was performing forest management practices to preserve the great beauty and natural resources as envisioned by Gifford Pinchot, and, WHEREAS, in 1940 the Choctawhatchee National Forest was ceded to the War Department for the establishment of a proving ground; and, WHEREAS, in 1950 Major General William E. Kepner, Commanding General of the Air Prov- ing Ground, rescued Camp Pinchot from its condemned status, and since that time, Camp Pinchot has served as the home for Eglin commanders; and, WHEREAS, in October 1998, the Camp Pinchot National Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places due to the Air Force’s exemplary management; and, WHEREAS, this year is the 100th Anniversary of Camp Pinchot; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Oka- loosa County, Florida, that we do hereby proclaim the 16 th Day of May in the Year Two Thousand and Fourteen as CAMP PINCHOT DAY DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of May, 2014. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA ATTEST: _________________________________ CHARLES K. WINDES, Jr. CHAIRMAN ___________________________ DON W. HOWARD CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT