Contributed to the Daily Sun

America’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone.

This idea of national parks for everyone will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 13, from noon-6 p.m. with a Traditions Festival at Homestead National Monument of America. The one-day event, which is being co-sponsored by Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, will focus on the traditions of all Americans.

Dancing and or musical performances are scheduled for every half hour from noon-6 p.m. The Native Clan American Indian Dancers, Lincoln Irish Dancers, Executive Steel Drum Band, Allon Chapel Gospel Choir, Asian Lion Dancers, Northeast Family’s Center School of Rock Band and Sangre Azteca are just some of the groups on the schedule.

The final performance of the event will be the Ashanti African Roots Band that promises to have audiences captivated from the moment the percussion begins.

A new booklet, “Nebraska’s Treasures,” specifically designed for children will make its debut. It was created by two members of the Student Conservation Corps at Homestead National Monument of America. It includes information on the Nebraska’s six national park sites as well as state and local sites.

“Nebraska has many locations which tell the stories of our heritage and celebrate our natural resources. This booklet will help us share these with the next generation,” said Mark Engler, Superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America. The “Nebraska’s Treasures” booklets will also be available statewide through the Nebraska Tourism  Board and at sites along the interstate.

This booklet and the National Park Service’s Traditions Festival are all activities being held in conjunction with the debut of award-winning director Ken Burn’s 12-hour series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”

During the Traditions Festival, “Untold Stories,” a series of five original mini-documentaries designed to bring to light stories from the national parks focusing on the role of African-Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans will be shown continuously in the monument’s Education Center.

“We are very excited about this event and hope to have many people come and enjoy the variety of entertainment we, along with NET, have planned,”  Engler said.

A screening of “This is America,” which tells the story of the national parks idea through the prism of our nation’s diverse population, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Hevelone Center for the Performing Arts at Beatrice High School.

“We are thrilled to be part of this wonderful community outreach at Homestead National Monument,” said NET Outreach Coordinator Martha Florence. “Our national parks both here in Nebraska and across America were created for everyone, and we hope this event encourages Nebraskans to get out and explore the parks and all the diverse opportunities associated with them.”

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service four miles west of Beatrice. For additional information please contact the monument at 402-223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home or contact NET Outreach Coordinator/Producer Martha Florence at 402-472-9333 ext. 603 or email at mflorence1@unl.edu