Suzanne Lewis Introductory Speech Transcript

Speaker: Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park

Suzanne Lewis: We honor this morning not only Old Faithful Inn, we honor the generations of people just like us who have enjoyed, admired, and cherished the old inn, and we do honor our nation this morning, which, by creation of Yellowstone National Park, launched a worldwide movement to preserve places of great beauty and cultural value. Now I'd like you to all stand (the children in front of me) and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

All: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Suzanne Lewis: I imagine that we would all agree that the Old Faithful Inn is more than just a beautiful building. Through the generations it has become an authentic place of power in our culture. All we have to do is walk through those big red doors like you did this morning and into this lobby--and that power touches each and every one of us. I think our spirits lift and we feel a little more special. It is its unique talent that can make us feel awed and welcome at the same time. Every guest of the inn is by definition a special guest, but I must admit that this morning I am going to single out a few more special guests that are with me and in the audience.

I am very pleased this morning to have on stage with me the Honorable Paul Hoffman, who is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Paul, would you stand?

[Applause]

I am also pleased to be joined this morning by Steve Martin who is the Intermountain Regional Director for the National Park Service.

[Applause]

And Jim McCaleb, the general manager for Xanterra Parks and Resorts.

[Applause]

In the audience this morning we have Congressional staff attending on behalf of Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas and Sen. Michael Enzi, Rep. Barbara Cubin, and Idaho Sen. Larry Craig. And we thank you for joining us this morning.

[Applause]

We are also very pleased to have with us representatives of both the Montana and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Offices, and the State Historic Preservation Offices are important partners to the National Park Service in meeting our mission and our stewardship goals of preserving and protecting places like Old Faithful. And somewhere out in this audience on the first, second or third floor is former Superintendent for Yellowstone Bob Barbie.
[Applause]

And we are also joined by former Yellowstone Ranger and former Superintendent of Glacier National Park and Yosemite National Park Dave Mahalich and his family are here this morning.

[Applause]

Our neighbors to the south, we are happy to have with us the new Superintendent and the new Deputy Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, and I thank them for joining us this morning.

[Applause]

And we are very pleased that Mike Plumb, the Chief Ranger for Mt. Rushmore has come to take part in this ceremony.

[Applause]

And as I mentioned earlier, Yellowstone doesn't get its job done every day without the help of great partners, and in our audience this morning are representatives from the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Yellowstone Association. We thank you greatly for your care and your help throughout the years. Thank you very much.

[Applause]

And we are also very pleased this morning and it's a special treat to have with us today people who symbolize so much of Yellowstone history, and we are joined this morning by Harry Child, Jr. and Mrs. Huntly Child and both of them are descendents of the pioneer park concessioner Harry Child, and you are going to here a little bit more about that later in the program. Welcome to both Mr. Child and Mrs. Child.

[Applause]

The Old Faithful Inn has been blessed with many friends, but none have been bettered honored to her highest traditions than those of the people who work here. When I look out this audience I see and I recognize the faces of many of the employees of Yellowstone National Park and Xanterra Parks and Resorts and our other concessioners, and I thank you for being here on behalf of the park.

[Applause]