Evening star., 1960-05-29
Hardy Perennial


On behalf of the Depart
ment Of Virginia of the Amer
ican Legion, and as chairman
Of our departments Com
mittee for the Enlargement
of Arlington National Gene
terry. I wish to tell you how
very much we in the Ameri-
can Legion appreciate your
very excellent and timely edi-
torial May 20, entitled Hardy
Perennial"
We cannot understand why
the sponsors of the monument
are not willing to have their
monument located in some
other location that would not
interfere with the enlarge
ment Of the cemetery. There
are so few grave sites left in
the cemetery now, and so
little land available in that
area that can be added to
the cemetery. There are a
great many other locations
available elsewhere that
would be entirely adequate
and suitable for the monu-
ment. If it is desirable to
build a monument at all.
Since the land within the
present boundaries of the
cemetery. including that part
Of the cemetery now occu-
pied by certain buildings and
installations Of the South
Post Of Fort Myer, cannot con-
tinue much longer to accom-
modate burials of veterans,
I believe that any reasonable
person will agree that it is
desirable to provide addi-
tional land for the cemetery,
where this is possible and
feasible, in order that it still
might be possible in the fu-
ture years to provide for ap-
propriate recognition of those
persons who have served with
the greatest valor and dis
tlnction in the armed Serv-
ices Of this Nation, by afford
ing them the privilege Of
burial with honors in this
great national shrine.
If the Nevius tract is made
a part of Arlington Cemetery,
these 20 or more added acres
can reasonably provide a
minimum of 10000 additional
grave sites for those who by
their great acts of devotion
to our country will serve for
ever as an inspiration to all
future generations of Ameri-
cans to live by their example,
and uphold the ideals of this
Nation and its people in the
great tradition set for them
by those who rest here in
honor, at this national shrine.
Joseph L. Hodges,
Chairman. Department of
Virginia Committee for
the Enlargement OF Ar
lington National Gene
terry.
What is all this talk again
of a freedom WALL? What
sort of thinking could cause
us to erect a static stone
monument to a living,
breathing fact?
Who leads so clustered an
existence that he cannot see
the great monuments to free
dom which stand all about
us? From campaign promises
to labor unions, from two
car families to Arlington
Cemetery itself, we possess
our monuments to freedom
monuments erected from the
stuff of belief, erected with
honest sweat on the blue
print of liberty for mankind
not Of tax dollars, on dis
puted ground.
When freedom has died,
then let us construct a monu-
ment to its memory, but until
then, let us concert our ideas,
our energies, and our tax
dollars, upon making free
dom live.
Neil Phelps MunsOn.
In your fine article May
% regarding the freedom
wall monument Mr.. Broyhill
states Il am surprised at this
act Of discourtesy because
we were merely trying to be
courteous and learn the
boards attitude" Let's pub
lish the facts behind this
shop-worn reply Mr.. Broyhill
has recorded whenever his
constituents ask for an ac-
counting.
Fact No. /: 1t was Mr..
Broyhill who asked to meet
with the Arlington County
Board at 10 am. 1t was the
board which was extremely