WHO ARE WE?

We are the young men who made up the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1942.

We are the men who mended the scarred land, smoothed the erodes fields, cleared the muddled waters of the creeks and streams, and refreshed the depleted woodlands of our country.

We replanted forests from Maine to California. We built fire trails through the new and old forests to provide protection and care. We cleaned out the diseased deadwood to protect healthy trees and new growth. And we fought floods and forest fires.

We built lodges and campsites in our National Parks to encourage people to enjoy our beautiful country and to make the parks accessible to all. We built roads and trails.

We worked the quarries to produce building stone for the dams we erected in State and National Parks. Those dams created lakes that have welcomed campers, fishermen, and family groups for more than 50 years. From the quarries also came rock crushed into limestone and spread on farmlands to sweeten the overworked earth, and building stone from the quarries went into masonry dams and flumes to control rapidly eroding soil.

We did our work all over this country. It stands today as a monument to the youth of the 1930's and what we accomplished with our minds, bodies, and hands. We were the craftsmen with pick, shovel, and hoe; with maul, drill, and wheel-barrow.

We gained education, seized job opportunities, and achieved honor, respect, and purpose in life. We put a mark on this land that will show for many years to come.

As a generation, we are proud to have earned a place in history. We will always be grateful for that, and for the chance to share that pride with the generations that follow.