A Fox Valley company, Neenah Paper, has the remarkable honor of being the source of the special paper used for the invitations printed for the inauguration today of President Barack Obama. Here is part of the Neenah Paper press release on their inauguration honor:

Paper has always played an important role in history. A World Series ticket, a playbill from an award-winning Broadway show, or a newspaper heralding a significant event like NASA’s first moonwalk have had special meaning for many. But on a larger scale, paper also provides a historical glimpse into our nation’s highest office.

Paper will once again provide generations to come with a peek into what’s important to Americans today as the presidential inaugural invitations are received this month.

One of Neenah Paper’s finest eco-friendly papers was selected for the invitation to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. More than 1 million inaugural invitations have been engraved and printed on CLASSIC CREST® Paper from Neenah Paper. Neenah has also provided the paper for the last three presidents’ inaugurations.

“Think of how much more we know about the birth of our nation thanks to the archived letters and papers of people like John and Abigail Adams,” says Byron Racki, senior director of Fine Paper Marketing for Neenah. “Their communication was thoughtful and meaningful, creating a window into the world as it was then.

“What will this invitation say about Barack Obama’s presidency when it’s found in an attic or tucked in a book decades if not hundreds of years from now?” Racki wonders. “We believe the choice of an environmental paper will remind future generations of our nation’s protection of the earth, and will be seen in keeping with our new president’s green sensibilities.”

Neenah Paper has a long history of providing paper for government documents. In 1873, the company’s paper mill in Neenah, Wis., began manufacturing paper used for government documents such as bonds, deeds and certificates as well as personal letters. Today, more than 135 years later, Neenah Paper continues to manufacture more sustainable and recycled premium papers while reducing its environmental footprint.

The paper used for the inauguration invitation is CLASSIC CREST® Paper in Recycled 100 Natural White. FSC Certified, made Carbon Neutral, and 100 percent post consumer fiber, it is part of the first generation of recycled and sustainable papers used for printing significant, permanent documents—an important milestone in the evolution of papermaking.

Kudos to Neenah Paper!