Posted on 08/01/2006 6:50:04 PM PDT by lainie
ARLINGTON, Va. There are cracks in the white marble Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, and each year, those cracks go farther and deeper. The 74-year-old monument is not in danger of crumbling any time soon. But the cemetery is deciding whether to patch the fissures or replace the marble altogether. The tomb has been patched repeatedly, most recently in 1989.
John Metzler, the cemetery's superintendent, says the cemetery could repair it, do nothing or buy an extra marble block and store it as a standby. He worries that some of the carved sculptures could eventually fall off.
Metzler says the marble block was probably cut from a Colorado quarry using dynamite, creating unseen cracks that were later worsened by exposure to rain and freezing cold. Cracks were first noticed in the 1940s.
Beneath the marble structure is a crypt holding the remains of three unidentified servicemen killed in the two world wars and the Korean War. A Vietnam War soldier buried there was later identified through D-N-A testing and removed.
Crisp Salute!
Thank you for your service, and the ultimate price you paid. Dad and I are WIA, but not KIA.
John Metzler: fix it and make it right. Languishing as-is, isn't an option. Do what needs to be done for them.
Crisp Salute!
The Congress will probably vote to repair the statue, and then "forget" to fund the job. This does probably call for a letter-writing campaign, though. This is as legitimate a use of Federal funds as I've ever seen...
Those cracks are the result of the rhetoric of Sen Ted Kennedy, Cindy Sheehan, Sen Hillary Clinton, Sen Chuck Schumer, ...
Those inside are spinning in their graves, thus causing said cracks.
Agree wholeheartedly - they rest in honored glory - give them the best monument we have.
and some entertainment. For Trace Adkins' video "Arlington" click here.
Easily my favorite spot in the DC metro area.
The original mine in Colorado is preparing a new block of granite.
Marble NOT granite
Shoot! Doesn't support a MAC!
ping
Thanks for the ping.
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