Caledonia Argus

ìUpper Missî Refuge marks 100 years, celebration is Thursday

Posted: 7/29/03

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the only network of federal lands dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation. The La Crosse District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge will celebrate the centennial with ìRefuge Festî in La Crosse at Riverside Park on Thursday, July 31 from 12 to 5pm.

A formal program at noon will celebrate ìThe Power of Oneî and include Rick Moore from the Izaak Walton League of America, the organization responsible for the establishment of the ìUpper Missî Refuge. The ceremony will include the unveiling of the Wisconsin Refuge Centennial Quilt which was created by area quilters. The quilters will be invited to participate in the unveiling ceremony.

ìRefuge Festî promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family. Storytelling by Kenny Salwey, ìThe Last River Ratî; a live bald eagle presentation by the National Eagle Center; a postal cancellations station; and a giant aquarium filled with native fish are just a few of the attractions being offered at the event. Booths representing national wildlife refuges, national fish hatcheries, and non-governmental organizations from Wisconsin will offer educational activities from people of all ages. The steamboat American Queen is also scheduled to dock that afternoon.

Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge in 1903 at Pelican Island, FL. A Century of Conservation celebrates Rooseveltís vision for all Americans to strive towards: ìWe have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.î

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