The National Park Service serves the nation as more than just the custodian of America's national parks and historic sites. We have always had a broader mission: to serve as steward of the natural, cultural and historical resources that are our common legacy as citizens of America and of the world. This mission is one that parallels the Smithsonian Institution's obligation to maintain its great national collections, holding them in trust for the people of the United States. It is thus both natural and fitting that we serve together as co-sponsors of the Festival of American Folklife.