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9/11 MemorialMarch 29, 2002 Honorable George Radanovich Dear Congressman: The National Coalition to Save Our Mall, a nonprofit citizens group dedicated to protecting and conserving the historic democratic ideal and beauty of the National Mall (Mall), is writing regarding your subcommittee's review of legislation (H.R. 2982) that would place a memorial to the victims of 9/11 in Washington, possibly on the Mall. The National Mall is America's preeminent monument to the U.S. Constitution, as designed by Pierre L'Enfant and Thomas Jefferson in 1791 and extended by the Congressional McMillan Plan of 1901-1902. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, the Mall's historical and cultural meaning is little understood by many Americans. We founded the National Coalition in 2000 to help educate the public and the Federal Government about this unique cultural resource and the increasing pressures that threaten its historic place in American public life through congressional authorizations. Therefore, we ask that your staff review the Mall's history and reconsider your location suggestion that the memorial to 9/11 may be appropriate there. A memorial to 9/11 is already being planned for the Pentagon. If another memorial to victims of terror is to be built in the area, we urge you to direct the Secretary of Interior and the National Park Service to seek other prominent locations in the Nation's Capital. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) has identified 100 sites that could provide a place of honor for the proposed memorial. These locations are explained in NCPC`s Master Plan for Memorials and Museums published and furnished the Congress last year. As you may know, Congress passed the Commemorative Works Act in 1986 to protect the Mall's historic open spaces and the integrity of the monuments to our past presidents. Just last year Congress reviewed NCPC's proposed Moratorium on future memorials and museums on the Mall. The National Coalition fully supports these protections of the Mall and hopes that you will as well. As a professor who has taught Washington architecture for years, I would be happy to discuss the Mall's history, character, and our concerns. You can see a brief slide introduction to the Mall on our website www.savethemall.org , under the title "Why Save the Mall?". The exact URL is http://www.savethemall.org/natl_mall/history.html. Please contact us if you would like to meet with us. Sincerely, Judy Scott Feldman, Ph.D. cc. Honorable Jim Turner |
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