US Mint - Representatives from the United States Mint and the United States Forest Service today celebrated the official launch of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin honoring Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana.
The coin's reverse (tails side) design features a wild turkey in flight over blue stem grass with long leaf pine in the background. Inscriptions are "KISATCHIE," "LOUISIANA," "2015," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
"As a Louisiana native, I am especially honored to be here to introduce the Kisatchie National Forest Quarter to the Nation," said B.B. Craig, Associate Director for Environment, Safety, and Health for the United States Mint. "I know from first-hand experience that Kisatchie National Forest has many adventures and recreational activities to enjoy. With all its beauty and all that it has to offer, it's easy to see why Kisatchie National Forest was chosen to represent the state of Louisiana."
Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana and spans over 600,000 acres in seven central and north Louisiana parishes. Jim Caldwell, Public Affairs, Recreation, Heritage, and Administration Staff Officer at the site said, "We hope the Kisatchie National Forest quarter will inspire Louisianans to get outdoors and explore their national forest."
Additional speakers included Tom Tidwell, Chief of the United States Forest Service; Tony Tooke, Regional Forester of the United States Forest Service; Eddie Taylor, supervisor of Kisatchie National Forest; Col. T. Glenn Moore, United States Army Garrison Commander for the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La.; and B. Cheryl Smith, Chief of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians. More than 850 schoolchildren were on hand for the event, which culminated in an exchange of coin rolls containing circulating quality Kisatchie National Forest quarters.
Posted 04/22/2015 2:59 pm
