Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-29
More on The WoIr

The old saying. Where
there is smoke there is fire."
comes to mind as We are
stified by the smoke surround
ing the plans for the proposed
installation Of the Freedom
Wall next to the Two lima
monument In Arlington. Why
has the public not been fully
informed Of the plans? Surely
no one wants a site that Is
crowded, or an arrangement
that viii overshadow existing
monuments. Secrecy and In
trigue are improper tools in
a democracy.
The pressure for haste and
secrecy should act as q warn
ing. Let US take the time 70
make q thorough inquiry and
learn all Of the facts. Only
then can a wise decision be
made. and a monument To-
Gated that will increase in
beauty as II stands the test
OF time.
Marian Forrest.
Where may the fund
harassed public purchase a
do-it-yourself Freedom Mon
ument kit. suitable for hobby
lists or lobbyists? It would not
cost as much as the s24 mil
lion--and eventually more
we will have TO pay for the
hand-me-down, secondhand
Freedom Monument that will
probably be advertised and
sold as a sure cure for COM
munism.
Subscriber.
Washington Is q monument
city. We have the Washing
ton Monument for history
and patriotism. Lincoln Me-
mortal for the Republicans.
jefferson Memorial for the
Democrats. and now the new
Freedom Memorial could be
bipartisan, II that would be
the end Of IL. But since the
intent is to take years sculp-
turing history into the wall.
will not the monument be-
come a political football?
Perhaps we had better keep
the Capitol itself as our
monument TO freedom and
the blessings OF two-party
government.
I do think the Freedom
Memorial Is q handsome and
generous proposition and we
all know it's impolite TO look
a gift horse in the mouth. but
I will feel easier 10 be as
sured the Congress will con-
slider:
/. The probable cost OF
landscaping and mainte-
nance.
2. Whether the fund-rais-
ing program is realistic.
3. Whether the location and
size Of the monument are
aesthetic.
4. And. again. whether the
country really wants another
monument Of this type in
Washington at all.
Small Taxpayer.
I appreciate the space The
Star has given 10 publicizing
the proposal 10 build a Free
dom Shrine In the vicinity OF
Arlington Cemetery.
Such a project Is not in the
public interest. It would serve
no worthwhile purpose.
would detract from the
beauty Of the area. and could
be little more than another
stopping point on the sight
seer's route.
II a Freedom Shrine Is
necessary. let US builder
endow--a Freedom Memorial
University from which would
fiow ideas TO enrich the world
forever.
Roy II. Torcaso.
\
II appears that the only
people who are for the Free
dom Monument are those
working on or for the project.
The rest. who are Just begin
ming to have reluctant in
formation trickled down to
them after 20 years. do not
want this type monument
Mt tlais site,
The promoters will tell you
we need a symbol" to re-
mind us Of our freedoms. The
DIRECTORS love freedom. too,
and the right TO petition is
costing them dearly In this
case. The only other state
ment the promoters make Is:
The DIRECTORS "misrepresent"
the facts" What "facts"p
No facts would have been
available II the freedom to
petition had continued TO be
ignored. Even now II 10 prac-
tically impossible TO GEL facts