Congresswoman Gabby Giffords shared a great ancecdote at Friday's ceremony adding Stewart Udall's name to the Morris Udall Foundation in Tucson. She noted that the very first piece of American territory hit by the morning sun in the east is Udall Pt. in St Croix, Virgin Islands, and the very last piece of American territory to see the setting sun in the west is Udall Pt. on Guam in the western Pacific. [right, gathering before the ceremony in front of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation headquarters in Tucson]
Congress renamed the Morris K. Udall Foundation, adding brother Stewart's name to the federally-chartered organization.
Stewart's son U.S. Senator Tom Udall was one of the speakers along with his cousin and Mo's son and fellow U.S. Senator Mark Udall from Colorado. Stewart, who is nearly 90, spoke a little faltingly, but with passion and humor.
The Udall Foundation's goal are to:
- Increase the awareness of the importance of, and promote the benefit and enjoyment of, the nation's natural resources;
- Foster a greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment, public lands and resources in the development of the United States;
- Identify critical environmental issues;
- Develop resources to train professionals properly in environmental and related fields;
- Provide educational outreach regarding environmental policy;
- Develop resources to train Native American and Alaska Native professionals in health care and public policy;
- Through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, provide assessment, mediation, and other related services to resolve environmental disputes involving federal agencies.