June 23, 2004

# **SIGN ON TO SUPPORT THE** 

# **VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL** 

Dear Colleague:

In 1993, recognizing "the deaths of over 100,000,000 victims in an
unprecedented imperial communist holocaust," Congress authorized the
construction of the Victims of Communism Memorial in our Nation's
capital, "so that never again will nations and peoples allow so evil a
tyranny to terrorize the world."

Today I ask you to join me in the effort to find a home for this
important memorial by signing the attached letter to the National
Capital Memorial Commission.

The National Park Service has recently suggested a location for the
Victims of Communism Memorial at Maryland and Constitution Avenues, N.E.
With a view of the U.S. Capitol's Statue of Freedom and just across the
street from the Washington headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
this site seems a very appropriate place to commemorate all who have
struggled against Communism and given their lives for the cause of
freedom.

The National Capital Memorial Commission, the first of three federal
commissions that must approve the memorial's location, will hold a
hearing regarding this site next month. Please join me in encouraging
the commission to approve this fitting site for the Victims of Communism
Memorial, so that this memorial may move forward and the heroic
sacrifice of over 100 million victims of Communism may be honored.

For more information or to sign on to the attached letter, please
contact Alena Guagenti in my subcommittee office at 5-2577.

Sincerely,

/s Mark E. Souder

Member of Congress

Mr. John Parsons, Chairman

National Capital Memorial Commission

c/o National Park Service, National Capital Region

1100 Ohio Drive, S.W., Rm. 220

Washington, DC 20242

Dear Mr. Parsons:

We are writing in support of locating a memorial to the victims of
Communism at Maryland and Constitution Avenues, N.E., in Washington, DC.

The memorial, authorized by P.L. 103-199, would honor over 100 million
victims of Communist atrocities around the world. With a death toll
greater than that of all of the wars of the 20^th^ century combined,
Communism has cast a shadow of terror from Berlin to Beijing, from Hanoi
to Havana. The struggle of men and women against Communism in these and
other places must not be forgotten. As the world's leader in challenging
Communist oppression, the United States cannot afford to forget the cost
of Communism and the reason for our struggle against it.

The Victims of Communism Memorial will commemorate this struggle by
paying tribute, in our Nation's capital, to those who have lost their
lives to Communist tyranny. An enduring reminder of their sacrifice, the
memorial will stand as a testimony to future generations of Americans, a
solemn remembrance of the lives lost to Communist oppression and of the
purpose of our Nation's fight against Communism and for the cause of
freedom.

This story is not only an international story but also an American
story. An estimated 26 million Americans trace their origins to former
Communist countries.

The location at Maryland and Constitution Avenues, N.E., suggested to
the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation by the National Park
Service, would be well suited to this important memorial. This site,
which is part of the master plan for memorials in Washington, would
provide adequate space for the memorial that has been designed,
featuring a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue created by
pro-freedom activists in Tiananmen Square, as well as an eternal flame
to the victims of Communism and bronze panels with quotes from heroes of
the Cold War. Just a block from the U.S. Capitol and the forthcoming
Visitors Center, this location is in sight of the Statue of Freedom atop
the Capitol dome-a fitting viewscape for a memorial commemorating a
struggle for freedom. The site is also located across the street from
the Washington headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose
members fought against Communism in Korea and Vietnam. Convenient to
Union Station and near the National Mall, this location would offer easy
access for the many visitors to our Nation's capital. With no other
organizations seeking the site for a memorial, it seems appropriate to
locate such a significant memorial as the Victims of Communism Memorial
at this site.

We encourage you to approve the location at Maryland and Constitution
Avenues, N.E., for the Victims of Communism Memorial. Thank you for your
attention to this matter.

Sincerely,