Thursday, June 9, 2016

Child Returns Stolen Pinecone, Apologizes to National Park

The Internet is full of heroic children these days.


First, there as #HotDogPrincess.


Now, for lack of a better term at the moment, there’s #AwesomeApologyNoteBurglar. Allow us to explain…



The Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California.


Earlier this week, the organization’s official Facebook page shared a heartfelt/hilarious note from a young visitor. It came with a pinecone attached to it.


And here’s why:


The child had apparently swiped said pinecone from Kings Canyon on a recent visit. He felt badly about it wanted to make up for the misguided act.


“To whom it may concern: I took a pine cone out of the forest and I wanted to return it,” the note, which was sent in the mail, read.


“I hope it will be placed near the General Grant tree because that is where I took it. I am sorry for my decision.” 


He’s sorry for his decision. See that, Brock Turner? It’s not so difficult.


In response to this unexpected delivery, the Parks Department wrote the following underneath the above Facebook photo:


Have you ever wanted to take a pine cone home from the park? It’s actually against park rules to do so. Why? It’s a tough environment here. The animals need their nibbles and the area needs the seeds and vegetation.


Also, cones and other plants deteriorate and help to create soil in this rocky environment.


Check out this note that we received from a young visitor. It isn’t a pine cone – it’s a Giant Sequoia cone, of course. But we are so glad this young person thought about the park’s preservation messages.


Thanks for leaving Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks as you found them. And, thanks for sending this back, buddy! 


We love it!


Here’s a look at other memorable kid notes we’ve also loved over the years: