The Festival of American Folklife has become an important tradition in the Nation's Capital. Thousands of Americans look forward to the opportunity to revisit this exciting program, while as many others find their first visit to be equally rich and meaningful.

The National Park Service is pleased to combine its resources and talent again with the Smithsonian Institution for the 13th edition. As in previous years, the Festival talks about, sings about, and dramatizes, America's unique cultural story. It brings together Americans from almost every walk of life for what has been described as "the great family reunion."

For more than a century our national parks, monuments and memorials have been called upon to preserve and protect America's greatest natural and historical treasures. We of the National Park Service have proclaimed this time as "Year of the Visitor" and we are delighted to welcome each of you to the Washington Monument Grounds, site of this year's festival. It is a splendid setting for this type of national celebration.