Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-05
Aooinst the WoH

citizens of our area are WON
dering why all the rush in
trying to push through Con-
gress at this time legislation
authorizing the building of a
huge Freedom Wall Monu-
ment, by private subscription,
on the Government-owned
Nevius tract across the Po-
tomac from the Lincoln Me-
mortal. The promoters of this
project, it is said, plan on
raising the necessary $24 mil
hon in private subscriptions,
principally in small contribu-
tons from school children.
Congress long ago author
lied purchase of this particu-
lar land for the benefit Of
veterans. The record is clear
on this, The proposed monu-
ment can be located else
where, but this land is the
only land available for the
much-needed enlargement Of
Arlington National Cemetery.
Approximately 20 acres re-
main which could and should
be used as grave sites for
the burial of our veterans.
in recognition of the service
of our gallant men who havl
preserved our freedoms.
Let's put first things first
this monument can be To-
Gated elsewhere.
Mrs. E. B. Sullivan.
1t is not fair to the public
for a certain group to try
to push the Freedom Wall
through Congress. The ground
should be used to expand
Arlington Cemetery-for vet
Grams who fought for all Of
us. Build the monument else
where.
B. L. and NJ. J. Johnson.
4 4 4 II
Lawmakers do not realize
that monuments of granite
and stone are out. of date
and unforgivably extravagant.
especially since last August
when we were catapulted
into outer space by the Sput-
mix age.
The few who are forcing
Congress to set the Freedom
Wall on the Nevius tract
know that it is a physical i'm
possibility for Congress, and
obviously more so their con-
stituents, to find. read and
study all Of the reports, bills.
hearings, statements made
by commissions and other
sources in hearings held on
disposal Of the Nevius tract
in 1852. It Is only through
these records and the unpub-
lished conferences held be-
tween the monument pro-
moters and the Interior De-
partment that Congress and
the people will ever know the
truth about this curious rush
Of this particular monument
legislation at this critical
time. Only by reading these
will Congress know why this
particularly massive monu-
ment must not be placed on
an area that has been kept
tranquil and green to pro-
tect our monuments on the
Mall. The promoters know
this and we're not fair to any
body when no hearings were
held on the act Of 1854 and
on the monument bill before
1t was voted on by the House
and Senate committees!
Those who have the facts
and wish to present them to
Congress are met with But
your Congressman from that
area is for the monument"
Mr.. Broyhill may be for the
monument but II he took a
poll he would find his constit-
uents feel differently because
1t is aesthetically wrong for
the rest Of the country.
We hope that he will take
time to learn the factual
background and the legisla-
tive history involved here,
and give full consideration
to all Of the problems in
volved.
Joseph Harris.
=
At the House hearing on
Freedom Monument Repre-
sentative Aspinall, author Of
this ambiguous bill. said to
Mr.. Broyhill: Wouldn't the
people Of Arlington rather
look over a monument than
q cemetery?S
The people Of Virginia have
always been proud to look
over the graves Of brave men
long before Mr.. Aspinall came
to Washington to enjoy his
view from Arlington Towers.
And the people Of Virginia
will be honored 10 look and
TO give recognition TO this
memorial long after Mr..