mirrors, historic preservation today is inform and shaped by the diversity of our nation. again, a nation over 300 million and is growing daily. you saw, for example in the 1990s the amendment of the act gave american indians and native hawaiian their formerly overlooked place in the national historic preservation framework. and this is a tremendous richness that the american people are beginning to fully, fully embrace. not withstanding that we have had mesa verde in the park system going back to the turn of last century. but now there is more sensitivity, more awareness of the richness and our obligation to do what we can do to protect and to honor those sacred places. along with commemorating the brave marines depicted in the iwo jima memorial in nearby

virginia, we'll soon that v a memorial in north kilana, the site where the first african american recruited for the marines were trained for world war ii, breaking down the barriers for those who followed. we were segregated, yes, in world war ii. and certainly through the courageous leadership of president truman issued a presidential order in 1940. he said it didn't make sense. and it doesn't make sense. well will have heretofore, we have here after an integrated military services. just up the road here sits the reserved old soldiers home. and only a few blocks from the capitol they recently discovered miss clara barton's office of missing soldiers, where the future founder of the american red cross helped write tens of thousands of letters to loved ones of those who served in the u.s. civil war. and her legacy is commemorated in your national park system with the clara barton national historic site in maryland.

by the way, all of these sites we're discussing are featured on recently published postcards that the advisory council and historic preservation. and please visit the table that is staffed by the advisory council representatives shortly outside and pick up a postcard, write a note to your family or your friends and say i was there and personally picked this up for you. and i want to commend those responsible for publishing those postcards. americans are realizing that their national history is more complex and vastly richer than that was discussed and taught in the past. it would only take a moment to look at some of the old textbook and know that the full breadth of the american experience was not recorded in some of our textbooks. but this year we celebrate 50

years again. and we have come a long way. and yet there is much work to be done. and as stephen again intimated, we're taking a look at where we might go. over the next 50 years. an certainly on behalf of chairman donaldson, i invite each of you to reflect with your own experience, interact with your neighbors and friends on their views of historic preservation and offer to the council and others what they would envision as being the next 50 years for preserving our collective heritage. also, i would ask you to take a look if you could at the act, a copy of the act that is on display out in the hallway. and you will be impressed by the language and the sense of passion about historic preservation that was envisioned by those who crafted that legislation, signed on october 15th by president johnson.

so this is a celebration for all of us who care about history, remembrance and our collective heritage. but i would tell you what has sustained the historic preservation movement thus far. and i think it will be the fundamental approach to historic preservation in the future. it is the concern and the active involvement by citizens throughout their historic communities. historic preservation at its true core can only be sustained if there is a caring by the people in their respective communities, in their schools, in their places of worship and what have you. that is where historic preservation truly takes place. the government cannot be the preservation's law, if you will. it's the people embracing the importance of our heritage. in closing, let me offer you a

couple of perspectives that have evolved not only for my tenure as a cocouncilmember with stephen on the advisory council on historic preservation, but somewhat to reflect on what i have experienced professionally and personally for more than three scores. as a matter of fact, it is three scores, 15 plus one that my birthday was yesterday. and my son say pop, you say three scores. no, four scores. yeah, three scores. that's 60, 15, 75.

so pop you tell the people that you three quarter of a century old and they fully understand. i said but that doesn't sound right, three quarters of a vicinity old. i prefer to do it a different way. but over that period of time, i've had the opportunity to enact what so many at the community, state, local, national and international levels. and there is a growing interest on the part of recognize the full spectrum of the american experience, and recognizing that the important business of preservation is preserving real historic places in realtime for this and future generations to see and experience. that experience and thousands of others like it whether differ in scale and purpose, that is the true meaning of historic preservation, to connect us from our own experiences.

they transform past into present and present into future, giving context to ideas and language to experience. in a real sense, my friends and colleagues, the preservation of our historic place is more than the protection of buildings, more than caring for the artifacts, structures, and grand landscapes. preservation demonstrates the value of diversity and community that honors and link us with the heritage of our predecessors. furthermore, it represent our individual and collective legacy to successors. one of the greatest accomplishments as seemed to me as a nation is that we have come to recognize that our legacy is about learning and teaching, helping our youth find a better life and a better place, because we have been here. we have made our contribution.

that makes it very necessary, that we preserve the slice of tragedy and difficulty in our growth as a people and a nation, as well as those representing our great accomplishments. as a great historian and former chairman of the national parks system advisory board who served when i was the director of the park service, dr. john hope franklin would remind us, would remind us, and i quote, we now know that the places that commemorate sad history are not places in which we are to allow ourselves to wallow in remorse, but are places in which we may be moved to a higher resolve to

become better citizens, to become better citizen. that is the bottom line. of historic preservation, to inspire us, to stimulate us, and to call us to action to become better citizen. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> thank you, mr. stanton, and happy birthday. and thank you, mr. ayers. i'd like to invite everyone to join us for a talk or a tour or possibly a craft project as we celebrate preservation day. thank you for being here. [ applause ]

and coming up tuesday night, american history tv in prime time continues featuring one of the founding fathers, alexander hamilton. including a discussion on the sold out musical "hamilton." that's at 8:00 p.m. tuesday here on c-span3. live coverage of state races continues on c-span. the candidates for indiana governor debate tuesday at 7:00 p.m. eastern. then wednesday night at 10:00, a florida u.s. senate debate between incumbent republican senator marco rubio and democratic congressman patrick murphy. and the candidates for u.s. senate in new hampshire face off thursday. republican senator kelly ayotte and democratic governor maggie hassen debate at 8:00 p.m. eastern, also on c-span.