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Happy Memorial Day! We hope you enjoy today's abbreviated version of Our Daily Planet. We will resume our regular weekday coverage tomorrow.
Enjoy the holiday!
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 Land
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Statue of Major-General George Meade, Gettysburg National Military Park. 99th PA Infantry Monument
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Veterans Urge Trump Administration to Protect National Parks
More than eight thousand veterans from across the country have signed a letter urging Congress to reauthorize a program that has helped protect some of the nation's most historic battlefields. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is set to expire on September 30th unless Congress reauthorizes it. The Fund is used to acquire and maintain national parklands, ensure recreational access to public lands, and support more than 40,000 state and local park projects across the country. For example, the Fund has invested more than $300 million in Pennsylvania, including $19 million for Gettysburg National Military Park. It is funded from oil and gas drilling revenues rather than from taxes.
Veterans are generally very supportive of conservation. There are numerous veterans groups like Green Veterans, whose mission is helping our Nation's heroes learn about sustainable building and green living while helping ease the hardship of military-to-civilian transition. By empowering Veterans to become volunteer leaders in their communities, they provide opportunities for continuing education, networking, employment, corporate engagement and green entrepreneurship. And the Sierra Club is currently working to show the benefits of time outdoors for service members dealing with post-traumatic stress (PTSD). They are partnering with U.C. Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center -- and they have seen up to a 27 percent decrease in PTSD symptoms after one night spent outdoors in their initial study.
Why This Matters: If the Land and Water Conservation Fund expires, it would jeopardize the preservation of America's military heritage and monuments to those who sacrificed for their country. Meanwhile, there is an increasing number of groups connecting veterans with conservation and parks as part of their re-integration into civilian life. Parks matter more now than ever. If the Trump Administration and Congress care about our veterans and servicemembers, and our proud military history, they will work to make sure our National Parks get the federal funding they sorely need and deserve.
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 People
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Plogging -- It's Jogging But Better!
What's "plogging" you ask? It's the latest fitness cra18ze sweeping the nation -- just as summer begins and people are going to be getting outdoors more. According to The Washington Post, the term is a mash-up of jogging and the Swedish “plocka upp,” meaning pick up. In this case, what you do is pick up trash as you run. Apparently, all across Europe, there are plogging groups -- n Scandinavia, Germany and Spain. Here in the United States, it’s just starting to catch on among exercisers who are fed up with rubbish along their route. Miro and I are helping to organize a plog here in Washington, D.C. so stay tuned for more details on that! In the meantime, if you are like us and jog slowly anyway, this is a way to do good and feel good!
Why This Matters: Our planet is drowning in trash. It's everywhere you look -- parks, streets, beaches and much of it is plastic. We have written often about how pervasive plastic is in the natural world now. It's in our oceans, frozen into sea ice, and its starting to show up even in our drinking water and the flesh of the fish we eat. The more we can properly dispose of, the better. Trash on the ground washes into rivers and streams and ends up in the ocean. Every little bit that we can put into proper disposal or recycling is helping the planet.
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The term "plogging" reminded us of this scene from Anchorman.
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 Animals
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Fireflies Light Up National Parks
Each year, thousands of fireflies light up the night skies in a handful of US National Parks with a special synchronized light show. The phenomenon, which typically occurs for about two weeks in the South Carolina national park in mid-May or early-June, is a mating ritual for male fireflies competing for the attention of females before their short lives come to an end, Jon Manchester, a park ranger at Congaree National Park, told Fox News.
Only specific species of fireflies engage in the synchronous ritual, such as the Photuris frontalis species that reside within the Congaree National Park and the Photinus carolinus fireflies near Elkmont, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains. So many people hope to see the synchronous fireflies that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park require visitors to make a reservation through a lottery system. This year, she said about 21,000 people registered for the 1,800 passes (which admits six people per pass) available.
Besides South Carolina and Tennessee, synchronous fireflies can also be spotted in the U.S. this summer in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania.
Why This Matters: Fireflies are one of the most special parts of summer and it's amazing to think that such tiny animals can put on such a stunning light show that attracts thousands of Americans each year. Check them out if you get the chance!
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 Food
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A Week of World Central Kitchen
Throughout the rest of the week, we're going to bring you some special content in partnership with Chef José Andrés' incredible non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen. WCK was founded by Chef Andrés in the aftermath of the devastating the 2010 Haiti earthquake and works to bring nourishing meals to natural disaster victims and create lasting solutions to hunger and poverty. We're such huge fans of Chef Andrés at ODP and his tireless work to help those in need with the dignity of a hot meal so we're thrilled to share WCK's inspiring stories with you this week.
But that's not all! We're giving away two tickets to WCK's annual benefit, Dine N' Dash, which is happening in Washington DC on June 6th. Leave your wallet at home and dine in 30 top DC restaurants in one night, including the chef's favorite dishes and drinks. It's one of DC's best events!
To enter the giveaway all you have to do is be a current subscriber and get a friend to sign up for ODP. Then shoot us an email with your name and your referred friend's name and you're both entered! *
We'll pick a winner on Friday. Good luck!!!
(transportation/lodging are not covered so make sure you live in DC or can get yourself here June 6th)
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