America's national parks are storehouses of knowledge that provide us with the tools we need to educate our youth about our rich history and, along with that history, about the broad and unique cultural diversity of our nation's citizenry. From the beauty of Yosemite National Park to the powerful message presented by Manzanar National Historic Site, our National Park System can take us to places and re-create events that bring us both joy and pain and with those experiences comes a better understanding of who we are.

Who we are is a complicated puzzle. We are both a nation that allowed human beings to be sold like chattel and a nation that fostered the great African-American orator, Frederick Douglass. We are both the nation that has for decades welcomed immigrants as the "tired and poor" as represented by the Statue of Liberty National Memorial in New York Harbor and the nation that spurred 120,000 Japanese Americans because they were different and resembled an enemy that had dropped bombs on U.S. soil

As the National Park System begins to reflect the many faces of America, we are challenged with the job of coming to terms with not just our nation's most shining achievements, as represented by the Edison National Historic Site, New Jersey, which is the home and laboratory of the great inventor, but shameful events as well. As educators it is up to us to bring all aspects of our history to the youth of America. Without the whole truth, we create for them an unreal world, which in turn can cause cynicism and misunderstanding. In the end, that misunderstanding can even turn to hate.

Manzanar National Historic Site in Owens Valley, California, is one of the most recent additions to the National Parks System. The story represented by Manzanar is one of the horrors of racism, but it is also the story of a country coming to grips with its mistakes. During the United States involvement in World War II, 1942-1945, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced through federal order to leave their homes, farms, and schools with just 24 hours notice and move to what the government called "relocation camps." Seventy percent of these individuals were American citizens. Manzanar, which held 10,000 men, women, and children at its peak, was one of ten "relocation camps" established by the U.S. government to house the West Coast residents solely on suspicion of allegiance to the Emperor of Japan. Besides Japan, the U.S. was also at war with Germany and Italy. But neither German Americans nor Italian Americans were subjected to this treatment.

For many years after World War II had ended, Japanese Americans visited Manzanar. Many of the visitors had lived at the camp and believed that those who were buried there should be remembered. The pilgrimages to Manzanar became annual events and the number of participants grew. Because the pilgrims wanted everyone to remember the incident, which even today is disputed, they began to push Congress to recognize the site nationally. In March 1992, Congress approved the designation of Manzanar. This designation formalized our country's recognition that Manzanar and the "relocation camps" were a mistake.

Other sites within the system celebrate and commemorate the Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander experience. The diversity of the community is represented in the various sites, which range from Golden Spike National Historic site where Chinese laborers helped to build the first transcontinental railroad and the many cultural and historic parks of the Hawaiian Islands.

My favorite is Pu'uhona O Honaunau National Historic Site. The site was designated by Congress on July 1, 1961. Pu'uhona O Honaunau means "Place of Refuge at Honaunau." The park is located on the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawaii. Located on the Site is the Hale o Keawe temple which housed the bones of the great King Kamehemeha's ancestors. This gave spiritual powers to the "place of refuge." Refugees who broke kapu (traditional tabus), defeated warriors, and others found their way to this sacred place to escape death at the hands of their pursuers. It was a firm belief in this culture that breaking the strict rules that regulated daily life would offend the gods. The punishments could range from natural disasters such as earthquakes to famine. The native people believed in a balance between people who lived in harmony with the environment. They also believed in angry, spiteful gods who could and would take that life away. Many people who were found to have broken kapu found sanctuary at Honaunau. They knew if they could make it there the powers of Honaunau would protect them.

These are just two examples of the many stories contained within our National Park System that celebrate, commemorate and interpret the history of a diverse people. As our history evolves and we learn more about each other, the National Park System must grow with us. Supporting the inclusion of other sites that teach our children about America's many diverse experiences is crucial to our growth as a nation. For more information about all sites contact the National Park Service.