Most
people go their whole lives without meeting a head of state. At
the tender age of 17, Troy Uentillie has been introduced to the
national press corps by one.
Uentillie, a student at Sherman Indian
High School in Riverside, Calif., had participated in listening
sessions for President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative.
On Feb. 22, the White House flew him to
Washington, D.C., to stand beside the president with several other
dignitaries as Obama introduced the initiative to the press.
What's the president like in person?
"Very tall," Uentillie said.
You can see a video of the conference
at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdqyV_qh9qY.
It's impossible to miss Uentillie in his red vest and turquoise
jewelry.
Before the conference, Uentillie and others
were briefed on the initiative by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
"He basically said that, even with
budget cuts, the president is committed to funding this initiative,"
Uentillie said.
During the press conference, Obama said
he would establish a Conservation Service Corps to encourage young
people to work in the outdoors, and fully fund the Land and Water
Conservation Fund for only the third time in our history, using
oil and gas revenues.
"If you take something out of the
earth, you've got to put something back," Obama said. "Preserving
the great outdoors for our children and their children, that's our
responsibility."
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