Feasibility of repairing Tomb eyed

The Washington Times ^ | September 22, 2007 | David C. Lipscomb

[Turret Gunner A20]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/METRO/109220035/1001

The Army is proposing to replace the Tomb of the Unknowns' 48-ton white marble monument because of non-structural cracks.

A senator has introduced legislation that would prohibit the Army from replacing the 71-year-old marble sarcophagus marking the Tomb of the Unknowns before submitting to Congress a report on the feasibility of repairing the monument.

Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Democrat and chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced the measure Thursday as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

"The senator wants to make sure before anything irrevocable is done, that we cross all our t"s and dot all our i"s," said Akaka spokesman Jon Yoshimura.

The Washington Times reported Thursday that the Army was leaning toward replacing the 48-ton white marble monument at Arlington National Cemetery because of several non-structural cracks that officials say diminish its aesthetics.

[Turret Gunner A20]

"The senator wants to make sure before anything irrevocable is done, that we cross all our t"s and dot all our i"s,"

I wonder how many millions of the taxpayer's money will be wasted sticking their noses into something that is none of their bloody business.

Leave it to a democrap!!

[A.A. Cunningham]

Akaka is full of caca.

[winodog]

That looks structural to me.

[George Smiley]

I remember reading about this one a few years ago.

If memory serves me correctly, a private citizen has already purchased the piece of marble [no small task in itself as there was something about the marble that made it unusual nad hard to match] and donated it to replace the original; the hangup has been the red tape.

[OldCorps]

Best way to make the decision: let the uniformed military make any decision necessary. Keep the self seeking, publicity grabbing politicians and the worthless panty wasted Washington bureaucrats OUT of any decision. I have no doubt any expenses could be raised through donations; not through congress where some clown will want to name legislation honoring war dead after himself.

There, I feel better.

[shove_it]

This was settled four years ago. Butt out Sen. Akaka.

http://arlingtoncemetery.net/tomb-replacement-002.htm

[George Smiley]

Although I disagree with him on a number of things, James Webb (current Sen, D-VA) wrote a very good book on the Tomb and the Old Guard entitled Gardens of Stone.

[shove_it]

“Gardens of Stone” is a novel written by Nicholas Proffitt who served in The Old Guard a few years after I did. His book was made into a movie by the same name starring James Caan and James Earl Jones. If James Webb wrote a book by the same name, I am unaware of it. I believe Nick Proffitt died about a year ago.

[George Smiley]

Egad— After a little online research- I stand corrected.

Anyway read it, clearly years ago, and enjoyed it immensely.

[shove_it]

No problemo! It was a great story and very true to life.