President Donald Trump has cut the budget of the Department of Interior this year of about $2 billion but donated his first presidential check for the quarter to the National Park Service of about $78,333.32 to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and Superintendent for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Tyrone Brandyburg.
Travel and Leisure reported Zinke as saying that he was delighted that the President decided to donate his POTUS salary to be used to repair America's historic battlefields. "These historic places tell the story of conflicts that helped shape our country's history," Zinke told various reporters during the Monday ceremony. He pointed out that these places honor the men and women in history who gave up their lives for the American service.
The National Park Service stated that of the 59 National parks in the U.S., there were about 25 sites classified as National Battlefields, National Battlefield Parks, National Military Parks and National Battlefield Sites. Among these are the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, Gettysburg National Military Park and more.
The site also noted that about 350,000 people visited the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland and over one million foot traffic to the Gettysburg National Military Park. It also alludes that many did go to these parks as the National Park Service celebrated its 100th year in 2016, giving many citizens a reason to visit the sites even more.
Many Americans would also do leisure camping as it has become more and more popular among teens and adults in national parks. Travelers Today reported that 48 percent of North American families would plan to camp more in 2017 and about 50 percent of them are taking their children to the great outdoors.
America, however, was divided over Trump's generosity and whether he could claim a deduction for it. Moreover, under the new budget, the National Park Service has lost 11.7 percent in the funding.
