Smokey Bear is 65

"Remember - only you can prevent forest fires!" was the famous quote from Smokey Bear, which has run across millions of television sets across the country.

Smokey Bear, accompanied by firefighters with the Florida Division of Forestry, appeared before the Highlands County Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 4 to accept a proclamation designating Sunday, Aug. 9 as Smokey Bear Day.

It's been 65 years since Smokey was created by artist Albert Staechle as an animated symbol that the public has come to identify in connection with wildfire prevention, the proclamation stated.

"Firefighters everywhere accept Smokey Bear as the symbol for wildfire prevention," the proclamation stated. "All of us whatever our age need to keep in mind Smokey's admonition: Remember - "Only you can prevent wildfires!"

A little shy, Smokey had nothing to say last Tuesday, but after the proclamation was read, Smokey gave Commission Chair Barbara Stewart a big hug; a bear hug, one might say, and a thumbs up and a little wave to the audience.

"The longest running campaign in Ad Council history, Smokey Bear and his famous warning, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires," was introduced to Americans in 1944," according to www.adcouncil.org. "The campaign was developed to educate the public on forest fire prevention. At the time, accidental fires accounted for nine out of 10 forest fires and destroyed millions of acres every year."

The public service campaign ad was changed in April 2001 to "Only you can prevent wildfires!"

The ad campaign has been far reaching. Reportedly 95 percent of people surveyed could hear the first two words, "Only you," and could complete the sentence, according to Wikipedia.

"In current commercials featuring Smokey Bear, he is voiced by actor Sam Elliott. He was voiced by Jackson Weaver until his death on Oct. 21, 1992; and Jim Cummings," Wikipedia stated.

So, is Smokey ready to retire at 65?

He's keeping that information under his hat; probably not as long as there is a wildfire threat.

Watch Smokey snuff out his birthday candle at http://www.smokeybear.com/ .

Smokey even has his own park.

The Smokey Bear Historical Park is located on Highway 380 (better known as 118 Smokey Bear Blvd.) in the heart of the Village of Capitan, in New Mexico, and is open everyday of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Smokey Bear Park was completed in 1979 after a little bear cub with burned paws was found, following a 17,000-acre forest fire in 1950 at the Lincoln National Forest on the Capitan Mountains.

After living in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., for 26 years, that Smokey passed away and was returned to the Village of Capitan to be buried at what is now the Smokey Bear Historical Park.