Our country’s National Parks system is uniquely American and chiefly neglected when it comes to national priorities.

Obviously, matters of national security and defense take priority over all others, but sadly, National Parks are often overlooked when federal funds are disbursed.

A move among several Mississippi cities aims to throw some local, municipal support behind the National Park Service. Natchez — along with Vicksburg, Ridgeland and Tupelo — recently passed local resolutions aiming to urge the U.S. Congress to better fund the NPS as the federal entity celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Those who simply sit on their couches and watch television or who must have wildly active electronic experiences to entertain themselves easily overlook the importance of the Park Service.

For the rest of us, who enjoy the amazing beauty of the sites NPS preserves and protects — both God-made as well as man-made — the National Park Service is worthy of much greater public investment.

We applaud the City of Natchez for throwing its support behind the National Park Service. NPS has been — and continues to be  — an extremely good citizen-entity for Natchez.

From the Natchez National Historical Park’s sites to the Natchez Trace Parkway, NPS helps bring droves of visitors to Natchez each year.

The investments NPS makes — both in direct local investment as well as the spin-off that tourists bring — is immense.

Natchez will benefit greatly if and when citizens can convince Congress of the value of investing in our most unique, most American invention — the national parks.