Friday September 22 9:04 AM ET
World War II Memorial OK'd for
Washington's Mall
By Margarita Martin-Hidalgo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After nearly 10 hours of squabbling over the
design of a controversial World War II memorial on Washington's National
Mall, a federal commission narrowly approved the $100 million monument.
Seven of the 12 members of the National Capital Planning Commission
(NCPC) approved the design of the main structure of the memorial, deferring
the vote on surrounding comfort areas, lighting and design of a
commemorative wall to Oct. 5.
Debate about the monument's design and location has raged for about a year,
with opponents arguing that veterans had no say in the design and that the
monument was too big and would obstruct views on the National Mall.
``I'm delighted that it passed,'' said Harvey Gantt, chairman of the NCPC.
``As far as I'm concerned, they can begin groundbreaking.''
The decision late Thursday paved the way for a ceremony marking the start
of construction on Nov. 11, the Veterans Day holiday, said Michael Conley,
associate director of the American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC).
Conley said the AMBC, which spearheaded the campaign to build the
memorial, would now seek construction permits from the interior secretary.
As approved, the memorial will be located on the Rainbow Pool between the
Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument on the National Mall.
The pool will be surrounded by 56 pillars to represent U.S. states and
territories, with two arches representing the battles in the Atlantic and the
Pacific on the northern and southern ends. The western side will have a wall
covered with 4,000 gold stars each commemorating 100 of the 400,000
American men and women who died in the war.
Proposals for national monuments in Washington must be approved by the
Commission of Fine Arts, the NCPC and the secretary of the interior.
To Remind Future Generations
A crowd of more than 100 people, including former Republican presidential
candidate Bob Dole, a former Kansas senator who was wounded in World
War II, other veterans, senators, architects and community organizations
gathered before the NCPC to voice their opinions.
``This memorial is not for us,'' said Dole, chairman of the National World
War II Memorial Campaign. ``It is to remind future generations what liberty
is all about.''
Supporters maintain that the memorial is long overdue and deserves to be
placed between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument because
the war was an event that redefined the country and the world.
``We deserve a memorial because we gave so much, and we gave it so well,''
said veteran Norbert Kockler, 75.
But many were opposed, saying they did not dispute the importance of a
memorial but were unhappy with the design and location.
``As it stands now, it would provide a huge disfiguration of the Mall,'' said
Rep. Eleanor Norton, a Democrat from the District of Columbia.
``It is grandiose and scary,'' said World War II veteran Russell Stumpe. ``I
would like a simple artifact to honor the sacrifice.''
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
World War II Memorial OK'd for
Washington's Mall
By Margarita Martin-Hidalgo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After nearly 10 hours of squabbling over the
design of a controversial World War II memorial on Washington's National
Mall, a federal commission narrowly approved the $100 million monument.
Seven of the 12 members of the National Capital Planning Commission
(NCPC) approved the design of the main structure of the memorial, deferring
the vote on surrounding comfort areas, lighting and design of a
commemorative wall to Oct. 5.
Debate about the monument's design and location has raged for about a year,
with opponents arguing that veterans had no say in the design and that the
monument was too big and would obstruct views on the National Mall.
``I'm delighted that it passed,'' said Harvey Gantt, chairman of the NCPC.
``As far as I'm concerned, they can begin groundbreaking.''
The decision late Thursday paved the way for a ceremony marking the start
of construction on Nov. 11, the Veterans Day holiday, said Michael Conley,
associate director of the American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC).
Conley said the AMBC, which spearheaded the campaign to build the
memorial, would now seek construction permits from the interior secretary.
As approved, the memorial will be located on the Rainbow Pool between the
Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument on the National Mall.
The pool will be surrounded by 56 pillars to represent U.S. states and
territories, with two arches representing the battles in the Atlantic and the
Pacific on the northern and southern ends. The western side will have a wall
covered with 4,000 gold stars each commemorating 100 of the 400,000
American men and women who died in the war.
Proposals for national monuments in Washington must be approved by the
Commission of Fine Arts, the NCPC and the secretary of the interior.
To Remind Future Generations
A crowd of more than 100 people, including former Republican presidential
candidate Bob Dole, a former Kansas senator who was wounded in World
War II, other veterans, senators, architects and community organizations
gathered before the NCPC to voice their opinions.
``This memorial is not for us,'' said Dole, chairman of the National World
War II Memorial Campaign. ``It is to remind future generations what liberty
is all about.''
Supporters maintain that the memorial is long overdue and deserves to be
placed between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument because
the war was an event that redefined the country and the world.
``We deserve a memorial because we gave so much, and we gave it so well,''
said veteran Norbert Kockler, 75.
But many were opposed, saying they did not dispute the importance of a
memorial but were unhappy with the design and location.
``As it stands now, it would provide a huge disfiguration of the Mall,'' said
Rep. Eleanor Norton, a Democrat from the District of Columbia.
``It is grandiose and scary,'' said World War II veteran Russell Stumpe. ``I
would like a simple artifact to honor the sacrifice.''
------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."