Spr Summ11 Arrowhead Newsletter
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Vol. 18 • No. 2 • Arrowhead 1 Arrowhead Spring/Summer 2011 • Vol. 18 • No. 2 The Newsletter of the Employees & Alumni Association of the National Park Service Published By Eastern National FROM THE DIRECTOR Colorado National Monument ilestone ann- Miversaries are Holds Celebration of the Century cause for reflection, especially big ones like one hundred. olorado NM celebrated its 100th Intermountain Regional Director On the eve of Canniversary on May 21, 2011 with John Wessels noted that, long before the National Park 600 people gathered for the occasion in a Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain Service centennial, festive canopy tent adjacent to the visitor became national parks, there was already there is a lot of center. U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Colorado NM. He called Colorado NM looking back and celebrating, as there the keynote speaker, recalled that his uncle, should be. The National Park System, “ahead of its time” when it became the the late Stewart Udall, was a staunch as Wallace Stegner pointed out, is a 25th unit of the National Park System on remarkable American phenomenon. advocate for national parks in his role as May 24, 1911. John noted that the U.S. Interior secretary during the 1960s. monument has really come into its own But things have changed since the “The heart of our values is the belief days of John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt as a major visitor destination in modern and Stephen Mather. The world is a in freedom,” Senator Udall told the times and with a particularly dedicated drastically different place compared crowd. “I know when you set foot in and tight-knit staff. to the era of those early conserva- the monument, there is a delicious feel- Colorado NM Supt. Joan Anzelmo tionists, and this is why I speak fre- ing of freedom.” Senator Udall also said welcomed the large gathering and said, “I quently of relevance. that Wallace Stegner certainly got it would like to thank all of our special The coming decades will bring right when he wrote, “National parks guests—and those special guests are each changes in demographics, in the are the best idea we ever had. Absolute- NPS and every one of you who is here today.” landscape, even in how the Ameri- ly American, absolutely democratic, COLORADO NM Supt. Joan Anzelmo The ceremony opened with a Native can story is understood. The nation- they reflect us at our best rather than American blessing and song by Clifford al parks will always be cherished by speaks at the park’s 100th anniversary the people who have always cher- our worst.” event on May 21, 2011. continued on page 3 ished them for all the traditional reasons. It’s the non-traditional audiences that we must reach: young people, immigrants, urban Completion of Historic Ebenezer Baptist populations and groups who have historically been marginalized. We must help them see their stories in Church Restoration Celebrated these places, show them that the national parks represent the whole of America in its wonderful variety. By Robert T. Parker, chief of The American Latino Heritage Ini- interpretation, education and cultural tiative is a major new effort to assess resource management, Martin Luther how we can better reflect the Latino King, Jr. NHS experience in the national parks. A recent forum at the National Chavez n April 15, 2011, Secretary of the Center in California brought together OInterior Ken Salazar and NPS Direc- scholars, park managers and others tor Jon Jarvis joined Bernice King, daugh- to discuss ways this can be accom- ter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Martin plished. In the coming year, we would Luther King, III; and Dr. Christine King like to increase our recognition of a Farris, Dr. King’s sister, to celebrate group that has a 500-year history in the completed restoration of Historic America, one that now comprises 16 percent of the American population. Ebenezer Baptist Church’s Heritage Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. The Another critical audience is young church, where Dr. King served as co- people. I recently spoke to 3,000 DOI/NPS elementary through high school stu- pastor, was one of many focal points of the modern civil rights movement and is now PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Elder Bernice King; Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar; dents as part of National History Dr. Christine King Farris; Martin Luther King, III; NPS Director Jon Jarvis; Supt. Judy Forte; part of Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS. Day. This was the culminating event and Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. of a nationwide competition intend- “Dr. King’s legacy as leader of the civil ed to promote not only an interest in rights movement had its spiritual roots at completed a renovation that has restored justice and freedom for so many of our history, but critical thinking, research Ebenezer Baptist Church—in the power the sanctuary and fellowship hall to the citizens who had been deprived of them skills and reading. of light to overcome darkness and non- way it was in the 1960s, when Dr. King for so long.” What I was able to tell these stu- violent protest to overcome injustice,” and his followers stirred the conscience of Secretary Salazar and Director Jarvis dents was that of all the resources at said Secretary Salazar. “Today, we have a nation and began the long journey to continued on page 3 their disposal, none was as valuable as the primary source. And there is no primary source—barring a living witness—that is as valuable as the national parks. If their relevance is to New Visitor Center Dedicated to “Remember live on into a second century, the parks will need the support of these future citizens and leaders. They will Pearl Harbor” and the Pacific War inherit a collection of places that were deemed sacred by another By Eileen Martinez, chief of center was sinking into the fill it was built plishing the construction on time and generation. They must understand the meaning of that designation on interpretation, World War II Valor upon. The old center was designed for within budget.” their own terms, and the event at in the Pacific NM 750,000 people a year, and the park now Overarching in the new design is a sees 1.5 million visitors. To prevent sink- “campus-like” feel using principles of National History Day was a priceless s World War II veterans pass into opportunity to make that happen. ing, 259 concrete piles were driven deep sustainability and green building prac- Atheir sunset years, their collective into the ground to support the new $56 tices. The center received an LEED® The National Park Service exists memories are preserved at the new Pearl in a very different world from the million center. Over $30 million was (Leadership in Energy and Environmen- Harbor Visitor Center. The center was one that created it. Maintaining rel- raised through private funding, with the tal Design) Gold rating and incorporates dedicated on Dec. 7, 2010—the 69th evance is one of our most urgent rest coming from federal and state gov- solar power, use of ambient air (i.e. trade anniversary of the Japanese attack on challenges. We should take every ernments. A new $7.2 million parking winds) for cooling, natural lighting, recy- opportunity to help new audiences Oahu. Once covering just 11 acres, it lot was built using federal stimulus fund- cled materials (including concrete from understand and value our work in now spans almost 17.4 acres on the ing. Tom Fake, regional project director, the old center), pressurized nitrogen cas- the national parks and communi- shores of Pearl Harbor. The center pro- noted that, “The efforts of Pacific His- es, pervious concrete and water-saving ties across the country. vides access to the USS Arizona Memorial toric Parks, our cooperating association, toilet fixtures. The center includes —Jonathan B. Jarvis and other Pearl Harbor historic sites. Pearl Harbor Historic Partners and the The new facility was needed, as the old U.S. Navy were phenomenal in accom- continued on page 3 2 A rrowhead • Vol. 18 • No. 2 Focus on the Parks • Families packed the visitor center at and sewn onto the junk’s sail, transform- San Francisco Maritime NHP on ing it into a well-known symbol and Feb. 19 to participate in the park’s first image closely associated with Chinese celebration of the Chinese Lunar New New Year. These four characters express Grand Teton NP Year. The event was designed to cele- the phrase “smooth sailing.” When placed brate the long history of Chinese Ameri- on a Chinese sailboat, the complete image cans on the California waterfront, as well is a metaphor of a wish that the next year Hosts NPS Academy as the commencement of Chinese Lunar will be where one’s good fortune will be New Year 4709 (the year of the rabbit). unimpeded and unobstructed. Ranger-led talks highlighted the pioneer- ing role of Chinese immigrants and • Cub Scouts and their families came to Chinese Americans as California’s first White Sands NM on Feb. 26 to partici- commercial fishermen. Craft activities for pate in the Klondike Derby. No fewer than visitors included folding origami shrimp 800 Cub Scouts accompanied by 1,200 and fish, making carp fish prints and creat- family members attended. Held on the last ing Lunar New Year greeting cards and Saturday in February every year since banners with rubber stamps. 1994, the derby is designed to give Cub The customs, symbols and images of Scouts an experience of self-reliance and Chinese New Year have been present on problem solving in a unique environment.