This topic makes me nostalgic.
Posted on 08/12/2004 10:57:27 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
Legendary spokesfigure Smokey Bear celebrated his 60th birthday on Monday, Aug. 9, as Governor Tim Pawlenty proclaimed the day, “Smokey Bear Wildlife Prevention Day in Minnesota.”
The Cambridge area Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a party at its headquarters on Aug. 9 to celebrate the monumental occasion.
Two-year-old Alexa Sutherland of Cambridge visited Smokey Bear and tossed a ball around with her furry friend. “The recognition by youth of Smokey Bear is tremendous,” said DNR Fire Management Section Manager Olin Phillips.
Even though Smokey Bear has been around 60 years, his message is still relevant today, for the young and the old, Phillips noted. “Smokey always has a continuing message.” For the kids, it is simple. “Don’t play with fire.” Phillips believes that when the Smokey Bear campaign was started in the ‘40s, “They didn’t have any idea of what impact he would have. … I expect he will be around to celebrate his 70th birthday.”
Only you can prevent wildlife.
;-)
I bet he & McGruff, the "Take A Bite Out Of Crime" dog, went out and had a ball.
Interesting piece of trivia. Smokey was voiced for many years by the late actor Roger C. Carmel, known to Star Trek fans as Harry Mudd.
Smokey Bear died a decade ago at 50.
This topic makes me nostalgic.
I remember Smokey the Bear during the early 1950's and how endearing Smokey was to the smaller children. A fire "ranger" would come around to the elementary schools and talk about fire safety and fire hazards. Also, the story of Smokey the Bear is supposedly true. A young cub was rescued by a fire ranger during a forest fire and the cub was raised by the fire unit that saved him...the rangers named him "Smokey.".....
Smokey lost all the credibility he had with me when I witnessed someone else preventing a forest fire.
Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear.
Prowlin' and a growlin' and a sniffin' the air.
He can find a fire before it starts to flame.
That's why they call him Smokey,
That was how he got his name.
Smokey the Bear,
Smokey the Bear,
Growlin' and a-howlin',
and a sniff in the air.
He can smell a fire, before it starts to flame
That's why they call him Smokey,
and that's how he got his name.
But, think about the last few big western wildfires, they were all started deliberately: the Hayman fire in Colorado, started on purpose by the scorned forest ranger; the huge ShowLow fire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Arizona, started by an out-of-work fire fighter, and a lost lady who set a signal fire.
Then there was the huge fire near Los Alamos, New Mexico, started as a controlled burn by the Forest Service on a too-windy day. Remember the giant San Diego fires last year ? Started by a lost hunter, setting a signal fire.
Perhaps Smokey ought to change with the times and go after the Forest Service and other arsonists.
SMOKEY THE BEAR
--A VERY patriotic NEW MEXICAN!
"I love 'mokey da bear, MWAH!"
It's "Smokey Bear", not "Smokey THE Bear". This has been a subject of intense debate over the years, and I just wanted to set the record straight.
Sounds pretty grizzly.
THE THE THE...for the love of pete it's THE.... his last name is NOT BEAR..it's what he is...THE BEAR!! auuuugggh!!!!!!
actually according to the nice forestry service man I spoke to both are correct.. at the beginning it was officially "THE", hence the song, but beginning in the 80's it was changed to just Smokey Bear.
They had to add the "the" lest someone mistake him for a hamster.
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