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Battle Rages Over Soldiers' Memorial

By SARAH ABRUZZESE,

The New York Times

Posted: 2007-11-13 06:04:48

Filed Under: Nation News

WASHINGTON (Nov. 11) — The fate of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery is uncertain this Veterans Day weekend, as the Army has yet to decide whether to replace or repair the 75-year-old monument, which is marred by several large cracks.

Under consideration for years, the idea of replacing the monument has pitted conservationists, who think the original structure should be restored, against those who say that replacing the tomb is inevitable and will properly memorialize America’s fallen soldiers.

Photo Gallery: 'Most Important War Memorial'

Matt Houston, AP

Several large cracks run through the 75-year-old Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. Conservationists argue the monument should be repaired, while the Army says it should be replaced.

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Watch Videos: Veterans Reflect on Service

The Senate unanimously approved an amendment to a bill in September that, if signed into law, would officially halt any action by the Army for six months.

Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Democrat of Hawaii and chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, sponsored the amendment with Senator Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia. The amendment requires the Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs, after the six-month period, to submit a report that includes cost estimates and repair options.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has led a campaign against replacing the tomb, and has contacted members of Congress and asked people to write the superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, John C. Metzler Jr.

“This is probably the most important war memorial in America,” said Richard Moe, the trust’s president. “It has served since 1932 for Americans to come and grieve for their lost loved ones, and there is absolutely no reason for it to be replaced.

“Even though there are cracks in the marble,” Mr. Moe continued, “they are purely cosmetic and can easily be repaired.”

The tomb, formerly known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is guarded 24 hours a day, and there are over 2,000 wreath-laying ceremonies there each year. Every president has paid a visit since the memorial was created.

Under an Army proposal, the three main pieces that make up the 82-ton sarcophagus-like structure would be replaced. Mr. Metzler said the cemetery hoped to donate the old pieces to an institution that would protect them.

One of the cracks cuts through the figures on the monument that represent Valor, Victory and Peace. The crack underlines carvings of inverted wreaths on two sides of the structure, and the words “an American” in the only inscription: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

Photo Gallery: Test Yourself on the Memorial

George Bridges, MCT

A soldier guards the Tomb of the Unknowns. Click through the photos to see how much you know about the memorial.

First question: When is tomb guarded?

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On Nov. 11, 1921, the third anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, a soldier was interred in a subterranean vault on a layer of soil taken from French battlefields. A marble lid was placed atop the vault. Lorimer Rich, an architect, and Thomas Hudson Jones, a sculptor, won a subsequent competition with their design of a simple tomb, which opened to the public in 1932.

It took nine tries before suitable rock for the memorial was obtained from a quarry in Marble, Colo., according to an Army report. The tomb has a history of cracks, the report said, starting the year after installation. But Mr. Moe said all marble is prone to cracks and that officials would face the same potential for cracks by returning to the same source.

Scott C. Watson, the cultural resources program manager for the Army Corps of Engineers in the Baltimore District, wrote the Army report. Mr. Watson said technological advances would allow officials to check for defects.

“It is the Army’s position that it is imperative to act while that marble is available,” he said, referring to marble from the Colorado quarry. “We can cosmetically fix it, but eventually the cracks and the weathering are going to get so bad you won’t be able to do that without it having a shabby appearance. And that is unacceptable for the Tomb of the Unknowns.”

The report rejects leaving the cracks. Calling the monument “deeply flawed,” the report said that to repair it was not in keeping with the cemetery’s mission to “maintain the tomb monument’s condition and appearance in a manner that fully reflects the honor, dignity and reverence for those whom it represents.”

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But, the report continues, “Arlington National Cemetery has determined that the tomb monument replacement will have an adverse effect upon the Tomb of the Unknowns. Removal and replacement of portions of the original monument will diminish the integrity of the monument’s design, materials, workmanship and possibly association.”

The Army had set Sept. 30 as the deadline for completing the review process required by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Those plans, however, are essentially at a standstill while awaiting movement on the bill with the amendment.

In September, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which must approve the plan, sent a letter to Mr. Metzler, the cemetery superintendent, recommending repair. Senators Akaka and Webb wrote to the secretary of the Army expressing concern about replacing the tomb and urging repair.

Mr. Metzler has for several years advocated replacing the tomb. He said he wanted the best memorial possible with the money available for the project.

2007-11-12 09:03:40

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1810 comments

HAP0749 02:15:55 PM Nov 13 2007

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this admin wants to make a new one. not fix the old one. there is no money in fixing up the old.

rotman4 11:31:50 AM Nov 13 2007

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Part of the reason it is so special is that it has been there for years. I would much prefer it to be repaired and know it was the original tomb than replace it. New is not always better.

Queenofsafety 11:24:30 AM Nov 13 2007

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It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN ,
who salutes the Flag,

It is the Veteran,
who serves under the Flag!

VETERANS KNOW THAT THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE.

God Bless them all!!!

--author unknown

curleyqlinke 10:13:28 AM Nov 13 2007

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They've covered themselves with honor and glory and deserve nothing less
Restore: To give back or return to original state

curleyqlinke 10:02:52 AM Nov 13 2007

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RESTORE
RESPECT
REFLECT

curleyqlinke 10:02:49 AM Nov 13 2007

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RESTORE
RESPECT
REFLECT

KellyFair 09:51:53 AM Nov 13 2007

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Visit www.NationalTrust.org. The National Trust for Historic Preservation reports that Mary Oehrlein, a preservation expert and author of Arlington National Cemetery?s 1990 study of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, has stated:
?The existing monument can easily be repaired, as was done 17 years ago, using conventional conservation methods to re-grout the cracks. Once repaired, the fault lines would be virtually invisible from the public viewing areas.?
?The idea that a new piece of stone can be quarried that will not contain faults is unrealistic. The chance of quarrying three flawless pieces of stone is zero. It really is a question of how quickly the faults will appear when the replacement stone is quarried, carved or as the stone weathers.?

Queenofsafety 09:49:52 AM Nov 13 2007

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Rest In Peace, soldiers.

Respect

Appreciation

Gratitude

Thank you.

nchaney 07:38:58 AM Nov 13 2007

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Same old attitude at Secretarial level. If it's broke toss it in the waste can and buy a new one. That's how he sees soldiers, too.

Norman E Chaney Jr
MSgt, USAF Ret
AFRH

howardslabradors 07:00:00 AM Nov 13 2007

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Hello, I have visited the tomb and it is impressive to memorialize fallen soldiers but today with DNA testing, one would think that our govt. would want the family to know, who the unknown soldier really is, and that the momument needs repair not changing as it tradition. One needs to visit the tomb and see the changing of the guard. It is one of the most impressive things I remember visiting with my parents. I do think that it needs to be there. Just fix it. It can be restored, after all you did to the Statue of Liberty and every other momument we have in D.C. Thank you.

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1810 comments