A resolution designating August 8, 2009, as "National Marina Day".

Whereas the people of the United States highly value their recreational time and their ability to access the waterways of the United States for enjoyment in and on one of the Nation's greatest natural resources;

Whereas in 1928, the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers first used the word marina to describe a recreational boating facility;

Whereas the United States is home to over 12,000 marinas that contribute substantially to their local communities by providing safe and reliable gateways to boating;

Whereas the marinas of the United States serve as stewards of the environment and actively seek to protect the waterways that surround them for the enjoyment of this generation and generations to come;

Whereas the Association of Marina Industries has joined with the National Youth Marine Alliance to offer youth service projects for the Preserve America's Waterways volunteer service initiative at marinas across the Nation;

Whereas the marinas of the United States provide their communities and visitors a place where friends and families, united by a passion for the water, can come together for recreation, rest, relaxation, and stewardship of the environment; and

Whereas the Association of Marina Industries has designated August 8, 2009, as National Marina Day, to increase awareness among citizens, policymakers, and elected officials about the many contributions that marinas make to their communities: Now, therefore, be it