Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-23
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Veterans Stand Fast

Veterans Stand Fast
It has been reported that in
endeavoring to find additional
Office space for the White
House staff, four possible sites
have been recommended for
consideration by the manage
ment consultant, Robert Hell
Ter g. Associates Of Cleveland,
Ohio. Two of these sites,
namely. the Ellipse and the
square on which is situated the
First Infantry Division Monu-
ment, are not available. Pres
ervation of the integrity Of the
Washington Plan demands
recognition of the fact that
certain spaces have been
designated for use as building
sites. certain others are re-
served as open spaces in per-
petuity and still others, like
the site of the First Infantry
Division Monument, are re-
served for monuments only.
In my opinion. there is a
rash Of so-called experts.
planners and consultants de-
scending on Washington with
all kinds Of half-baked ideas
showing that they know abb
solutely nothing Of the funda-
mental scheme of things, and
care less. We have competent
planning agencies in WASH
ington, such as the National
Capital Planning Commission.
the Commission Of Fine Arts
and the National Capital
Parks: but they are never con-
suited by the so-called experts
and neither are the citizens
themselves.
To place q large building
in the Ellipse obviously would
overload the axis of the great
plan of Washington and hide
the White House from view.
1t is absolutely inadmissible
from planning standpoint.
Regarding the First Infantry
Division Monument. this is
placed at q site which bal
ances the monument to Gen.
Sherman just south of the
Treasury Building. 1t is OBJ
vious that to place an office
building in either one of these
sites would be absolutely in
congruous. The First Infantry
Division Monument was erected
after World War ! by private
subscriptions of the veterans
and their friends. and the
same thing has been done with
respect to the addition TO the
monument which is now being
built under my supervision.
Twice Congress has approved
OF this work being done on
public grounds of the United
States. The veterans of the
division and the members Of
the division organization. more
than $4,000 strong. would
deeply resent any attempt to
move the monument which has
been painstakingly erected. I
hope therefore that public in
dignation will be aroused by
the present suggestion by the
so-called management con-
sultant."
william E. Shepherd,
Col. USAR (Ret.). Agent.
First Infantry Division.
There are times when one
remembers all too wildly the
old description Of Washington
as being "a large city Of small
people"
An announcement from the
White House that one Of the
sites considered for a new Of
flee building for the White
House is the square just east
OF the Corcoran Art Gallery
reminds one OF the old de-
scription quoted.
This suggestion shows little
imagination. The square con-
tains the great monument Of
the First Division with more
than 5000 names Of its bat
tie dead in World War I. and
an extension Of the monu-
ment, now underway. will con-
tain the names Of almost
5000 of the First Divisions
battle dead Of World War II.
These men were killed by
enemy action in foreign coun-
tries, fighting a foreign war
for the United States.
The square was desecrated
once by a barracks building
which was built around the
First Division Monument dur
ing World War II. We had
the site cleared after long
delays.
The planners have three
sites available. all owned by
the United States. The old
State, War and Navy Building,
long a monstrosity and eye
sore. without historic interest;
the block west Of Lafayette
Park which contains a coupke
Of pseudo-historic houses. akd