630-MEMBER NATIONAL PARK RETIREE GROUP GIVES “1872 AWARD” TO KRISTEN BRENGEL OF THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

WASHINGTON, D.C.//January 9, 2008///A respected coalition of 630 national park leaders with more than 18,000 years of relevant experience today presented an award to The Wilderness Society’s Kristen Brengel. Brengel was presented with the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees’ “1872 Award.” In presenting the award at a gathering of Brengel’s colleagues, CNPSR Executive Council Chairman Bill Wade said, “Yellowstone, the world’s first national park was established in 1872. This set in motion a worldwide effort to preserve special places. In the United States, over 390 of the nation’s significant heritage areas have been included in the National Park System. Constant vigilance is required to assure that the resources of these areas are protected as the American people expect. Few people work harder at this than Kristen Brengel, who has worked tirelessly for a number of years to preserve the values of the National Park System.”

Wade also said that Brengel had been instrumental in contributing to CNPSR’s stated guiding principles and has served as a valuable advisor and supporter to the Coalition as it has grown to its present level from its inception in May, 2003.