We were pleasantly surprized to receive a phone call in our office a few weeks back from the Presidential Secret Service. The President was requesting the rental use of two of our deluxe self-bailing rafts for his upcoming family visit to Yosemite National Park. We felt honored and proud to be chosen by the POTUS and FLOTUS to help outfit their Yosemite rafting experience.
President Obama and his family were visiting Yosemite to mark Father’s Day and to draw attention to the National Parks 100th anniversary being celebrated in August. On Saturday the President spoke at Sentinel Bridge in Yosemite calling the Valley a “sacred place” that embodied the spirit of America. Recounting the work of Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir and their efforts to protect our country’s natural resources, the President called for continued efforts on conservation and preventing climate change. He also made note of the work of his administration in protecting over 265,000 acres of land and water, more than any president in history. In a recent Facebook video about the trip, the President said: “I want to make sure that the whole world is able to pass on to future generations the God-given beauty of this planet I want to make sure that the whole world is able to pass on to future generations.” We couldn’t agree more. You can view the whole speech below.
The rivers of Yosemite National Park are also a part of our shared national heritage. Both the Merced and Tuolumne river have been designated as National Wild & Scenic Rivers and are protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. These wild free-flowing rivers also manifest the spirit of this country. Come and experience them yourself.
Sunday was a family day for the Obamas and was spent privately. The weather in Yosemite Valley that Sunday was perfect for a Merced float trip and we know he had enough rafts for a small family flotilla. We really wish we had a photo of the first family in one of our Sierra Mac rafts with our logo prominently displayed, but we respect the President’s privacy on Father’s Day. The boats were returned on Monday and I noticed the Secret Service agent’s balding head looked a little sunburned.