"This Land is Our Land" 

Sunrise in Acadia National Park/ Bar Harbor is not just any sunrise....it's the first place that you can see the sunrise in America. It is an experience that makes you feel very small in the world while the sun unveils the vast size of the Atlantic Ocean and miles of land. To witness it from atop Cadillac Mountain requires a lot of effort and determination as it is a very early sunrise, especially in the summer. I was up at 3:45am, showered to wake myself up fully, as my drive required 15 minutes through residential Bar Harbor and then 25 minutes up a mountain in the dark. Gathered my equipment, out the door and on the road by 4:15am. I didn't know what to expect...I was the only car for quite some time driving slowly in complete darkness with just the path in front of me from my headlights. I'd driven this road in the daytime, and knew there were trees and overlooks that I couldn't currently see. At the final approach to the top, it became a parade of cars behind me and surprisingly I arrived at a half full parking lot. The sky quickly got lighter and revealed silhouettes of countless people, conversing in whispers and sitting in silence. I joined them on the rocks with my camera and blanket and we waited together. When the sun first peaked out over the horizon, there was a quiet gasp in unison at the sight. Everyone on top of that mountain were brought together to experience this, to be the first in the whole Country to see the sunrise. Realizing only a hundred or so people were there to share this moment made it even more special and beautiful.  
The National Parks are places of unity. It doesn't matter where you come from, your gender or sexual orientation, your religious background, political party or age. Everyone is there because they share the love and appreciation for America's natural places and natural identity. These days in a time of such divide it seems more important than even to preserve and protect these places of unity.