[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8838-S8840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REPORT ON THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to share a report with our 
colleagues, which I received last month from the Departments of the 
Army and Veterans Affairs. The report addresses the Army's and VA's 
plans for repairing and preserving the Tomb Monument at the Tomb of the 
Unknowns. As many of our colleagues may know and appreciate, the Tomb 
is a national monument of great historical significance, especially to 
our Nation's veterans, located on the hallowed ground of Arlington 
National Cemetery.
  The Tomb Monument, which sits above the tombs for the unknowns from 
World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict, has developed 
several cracks along the natural faults in the marble. For some time, 
there has been discussion of possibly replacing the original monument. 
However, prior to taking this option, I wanted to ensure that at the 
very least decisionmakers considered options for preserving, rather 
than replacing the monument. While I understand the concerns about the 
cracks in the Tomb Monument, I along with many others believe that our 
national monuments are not diminished by signs of their age. Many of 
our most treasured American symbols, from the Liberty Bell to the Star-
Spangled Banner, are physically worn and weathered. This does not 
diminish their value or significance. I would argue that the same is 
true for the Tomb of the Unknowns.
  It is our Nation's tradition to preserve our historic national 
symbols. We must protect them from the notion that they can be easily 
discarded or replaced. With those concerns in mind, my colleague from 
Virginia, Senator Webb, and I successfully added language requiring a 
report on plans for the Tomb Monument to last year's National Defense 
Authorization Act. The joint report acknowledges that replacement of 
the Tomb Monument could have a negative impact on the historic 
significance of the Tomb of the Unknowns.

[[Page S8839]]

  I am pleased that the joint report outlined several alternatives to 
replacing the Tomb Monument. I urge the Departments, in their 
respective capacities, to pursue the best means of preserving the Tomb 
Monument for future generations of veterans and Americans. While the 
Departments may have to consider partial or full replacement of the 
Tomb Monument at some future date, at this time there are still a 
number of other options which should be pursued.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters and the Executive 
Summary of the report be printed in the Record.

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant 
           Secretary, Civil Works,
                                  Washington, DC, August 11, 2008.
     Hon. Richard B. Cheney,
     President of the Senate,
     U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: In accordance with Section 2873 of the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, 
     enclosed is a report on alternative measures to address 
     cracks in the monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 
     Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The report contains 
     information about the monument in response to the provisions 
     in subsection 2873(a) with respect to (1) plans considered 
     for replacement and disposal; (2) the feasibility and 
     advisability of repair; (3) current maintenance and 
     preservation efforts; (4) an explanation of why no repair 
     attempt has been made since 1989; (5) comprehensive cost 
     estimates for replacement and repair; and (6) assessment of 
     its structural integrity.
       Options for addressing the cracks are described in the 
     report. A decision on a final course of action will not be 
     made until our responsibilities are fulfilled under Section 
     106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the 
     National Environmental Policy Act. Also, subsection 2873(b) 
     states that ``[t]he Secretary of the Army and the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs may not take any action to replace the 
     monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National 
     Cemetery, Virginia, until 180 days after the date of the 
     receipt by Congress of the report required by subsection 
     (a).'' According to subsection 2873(c), the limitation in 
     subsection 2873(b) does not prevent undertaking repair of the 
     monument or acquiring marble for the repair, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations. Accordingly, while long-term 
     options continue to be explored, experts in the field of 
     marble maintenance and conservation are being consulted to 
     assist ANC in the development and implementation of a 
     maintenance and repair plan to ensure that the existing 
     marble is appropriately protected.
       In accordance with a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding 
     between the Department of the Army and the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs (VA), the role of VA is limited to 
     procurement, transportation, and sculpting of a replacement 
     for the base, main die block, and cap of the Tomb Monument, 
     should ANC determine that replacement is required. VA has no 
     role in determining whether the Monument should be replaced, 
     or in its maintenance and repair.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that, from the 
     standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no 
     objection to the presentation of this report for 
     consideration of the Congress.
           Very truly yours,
                                           John Paul Woodley, Jr.,
                    Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
                                                 William F. Tuerk,
     Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.
                                  ____

         Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant 
           Secretary, Civil Works,
                                  Washington, DC, August 11, 2008.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Speaker: In accordance with Section 2873 of the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, 
     enclosed is a report on alternative measures to address 
     cracks in the monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 
     Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The report contains 
     information about the monument in response to the provisions 
     in subsection 2873 (a) with respect to (1) plans considered 
     for replacement and disposal; (2) the feasibility and 
     advisability of repair; (3) current maintenance and 
     preservation efforts; (4) an explanation of why no repair 
     attempt has been made since 1989; (5) comprehensive cost 
     estimates for replacement and repair; and (6) assessment of 
     its structural integrity.
       Options for addressing the cracks are described in the 
     report. A decision on a final course of action will not be 
     made until our responsibilities are fulfilled under Section 
     106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the 
     National Environmental Policy Act. Also, subsection 2873(b) 
     states that ``[t]he Secretary of the Army and the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs may not take any action to replace the 
     monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National 
     Cemetery, Virginia, until 180 days after the date of the 
     receipt by Congress of the report required by subsection 
     (a).'' According to subsection 2873(c), the limitation in 
     subsection 2873(b) does not prevent undertaking repair of the 
     monument or acquiring marble for the repair, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations. Accordingly, while long-term 
     options continue to be explored, experts in the field of 
     marble maintenance and conservation are being consulted to 
     assist ANC in the development and implementation of a 
     maintenance and repair plan to ensure that the existing 
     marble is appropriately protected.
       In accordance with a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding 
     between the Department of the Army and the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs (VA), the role of VA is limited to 
     procurement, transportation, and sculpting of a replacement 
     for the base, main die block, and cap of the Tomb Monument, 
     should ANC determine that replacement is required. VA has no 
     role in determining whether the Monument should be replaced, 
     or in its maintenance and repair.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that, from the 
     standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no 
     objection to the presentation of this report for 
     consideration of the Congress.
           Very truly yours,
     John Paul Woodley, Jr.,
       Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
     William F. Tuerk,
       Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
                                  ____
                                  

  Report on Alternative Measures To Address Cracks in the Monument at 
   the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia


                           EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

       Alternative measures are being explored to address cracks 
     in the Tomb of the Unknowns Monument at Arlington National 
     Cemetery (ANC). The Tomb Monument is the four-piece marble 
     object located over the vault containing the remains of the 
     World War I Unknown, and is a component of the Tomb of the 
     Unknowns. Section 2873 of the National Defense Authorization 
     Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181 (Act), directed 
     the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to submit a joint report to Congress on plans to 
     address the cracks with respect to (1) replacing the Monument 
     and its disposal, if it were removed; (2) an assessment of 
     the feasibility and advisability of repairing the Monument 
     rather than replacing it; (3) a description of current 
     efforts to maintain and preserve the Monument; (4) an 
     explanation of why no attempt has been made since 1989 to 
     repair it; (5) comprehensive estimates of the cost of 
     replacement and the cost of repair; and (6) an assessment of 
     its structural integrity.
       In 1963, ANC initiated a program of monitoring and 
     investigation of the Monument in response to the development 
     of two parallel cracks in its main block. The cracks, which 
     now measure nearly 48 feet in combined length, appear on all 
     four sides of the Monument and extend almost entirely through 
     the block. According to stone conservation experts, the 
     cracks are not compromising the structural integrity of the 
     stone and are repairable. ANC repaired the cracks twice, once 
     in 1975, and again in 1989, and is now in the process of 
     initiating another repair of the Monument. The results of 
     studies and monitoring of the Monument over the past four 
     decades confirm that, despite repairs, the cracks continue to 
     lengthen and widen, which is perhaps a natural phenomenon of 
     the material. Since 1990, a third crack has become visible, 
     whose origins are uncertain. The Monument can be repaired 
     again, but its condition will continue to deteriorate. 
     Although it is not known when the Monument will reach the 
     point of being beyond repair, the natural aging process that 
     weathers and cracks outdoor marble makes it likely that it 
     will need to be replaced at some point in the future. The 
     cracking and minor erosion of the Monument have led ANC to 
     consider various treatment options, including repairing the 
     cracks, obtaining and stockpiling marble for future 
     replacement of the monument, and the immediate replacement of 
     its cap, die block, and base.
       The impetus to consider various treatment options for the 
     Monument is the culmination of over 40 years of deliberation, 
     starting with the first report on the cracks in the early 
     1960s, and continuing through the two previous repairs. In 
     evaluating whether to continue to maintain and repair the 
     Monument or replace it, ANC is giving full consideration to 
     its historic significance. ANC recognizes the associative 
     qualities that link the Monument to World War I and its 
     veterans. ANC also realizes that the Tomb of the Unknowns has 
     come to memorialize all of the service men and women that 
     have sacrificed their lives for this country in subsequent 
     military conflicts that continue today. In this regard, the 
     Tomb of the Unknowns has significance, beyond its historic 
     significance, that transcends the past and present to the 
     future. As its steward, ANC is responsible to do what it can 
     to ensure that the Monument stands, as unflawed and 
     perfect as possible, in honor of the sacrifices that it 
     represents.
       To preserve the solemn dignity of the Monument for those 
     that it honors and for

[[Page S8840]]

     future generations of Americans, ANC is considering 
     alternative actions that could be taken. Repair of the 
     Monument is a viable alternative, as verified by experts in 
     the field of stone conservation. Replacement is another 
     alternative under consideration, due to the uncertainty of 
     obtaining suitable marble in the future. Only marble with 
     specific qualities can be used for replacement, so the 
     current and future existence and availability of such marble 
     is of concern. Suitable marble is available today, but may 
     not be in the future, and there will never be a greater 
     quantity of suitable marble in the future than there is now. 
     It is primarily for this reason that ANC is considering 
     replacement of the Monument as one potential long-term 
     solution.
       There is more information in this report on the potential 
     replacement option than there is for other options, because 
     the replacement option is much more complex than the other 
     options under consideration. Also, the potential replacement 
     option has undergone the most scrutiny through the Section 
     106 review process. The preponderance of information on 
     replacement should not be construed as favoring this option 
     over the other options under consideration.
       In response to ANC's request to provide a Tomb Monument 
     replacement, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) entered 
     into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department 
     of the Army in 2004 that outlines respective 
     responsibilities. VA will be responsible for the procurement, 
     transportation, and sculpting of a replacement for the base, 
     main die block, and cap of the Tomb Monument when and if Army 
     decides replacement is necessary. Both agencies have 
     compliance requirements under Section 106 of the National 
     Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental 
     Policy Act (NEPA). No decision on a final course of action 
     will be made until both agencies fulfill their respective 
     responsibilities under both of these laws.
       Furthermore, subsection 2873(b) of the Act states that 
     ``The Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may not take any action to replace the monument at 
     the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, 
     Virginia, until 180 days after the date of receipt by 
     Congress of the report required by subsection (a).'' 
     According to subsection 2873(c), the limitation in subsection 
     2873(b) does not prevent the repair of the current Monument 
     or the acquisition of blocks of marble. Accordingly, while 
     long-term options such as continued repair, procurement of 
     replacement marble, and immediate replacement continue to be 
     explored, ANC is working with experts in the field of marble 
     maintenance and conservation to develop and implement a 
     maintenance and repair plan to ensure that the existing 
     marble is appropriately protected. ANC will take no action to 
     acquire replacement blocks of marble until after Section 106 
     and NEPA requirements are complete.

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