December 2, 2009
Dear Coalition Friends:
Legislation authorizing memorials and visitor centers on the National Mall and beyond is the subject of two hearings this week. Also, see the reminder below of tonight's public session on Jefferson Memorial security.
-- On Thursday, December 3, the Senate subcommittee that oversees national parks will consider several bills, including two of particular interest for the National Mall. The hearing is at 2:30 p.m. in 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Learn more at the Energy and Natural Resources Committee website.
Of special note is H.R. 3689, a bill to extend the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to build a visitor center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This is a project our Coalition has opposed from early days as an unnecessary intrusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial itself as well as the nearby Lincoln Memorial. As we state in a letter we have sent to the Subcommittee, there is less need than ever, now that the newly revamped National Museum of American History only blocks away has reopened with a new, thoughtful exhibition, "The Price of Freedom," about the Vietnam war and other American wars.
Another bill, S. 2097, would rededicate the District of Columbia War Memorial on the National Mall as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. This bill was the subject of some discussion and controversy earlier this year, as reported.
The concept of layering new meanings on existing memorials to reflect evolving meaning, such as proposed with this DC War Memorial bill, is one our Coalition has supported in our new report Renewing American Democracy on the 3rd Century Mall -- posted on our website http://www.savethemall.org A successful example of such layering is the MLK "I Have A Dream" inscription recently added on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As we point out in our report, however, altering existing memorials requires, we believe, changes to the Commemorative Works Act including the moratorium. We are advocating study and possible reform of the Commemorative Works Act to improve the process for locating, designing, and approving new memorials or enhancements of existing memorials.
-- On Friday, December 4, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, a body established by the Commemorative Works Act to make recommendations to Congress regarding memorial subjects and locations, meets to consider several projects, including the House bill (as opposed to the Senate bill mentioned above) to rededicate the DC War Memorial. This Commission is composed of representatives of several federal agencies and review bodies and is headed by the National Park Service. There is no public representation. The public is welcome to testify during the Advisory Commission meeting.
The Memorial Advisory Commission meets at 10 a.m. on the 4th in the offices of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C. This Commission does not have a website. For more information, contact Nancy R. Young, National Park Service, 202-619-7097.
-- The public presentation on Jefferson Memorial security by the National Park is tonight, December 2, 2009, 5:30-7:30 PM, in Room M-09 at the Old Post Office Pavilion, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Contact: Jane_Sikoryak@nps.gov
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