PRINTER'S NO. 2085
No. 218 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, TILGHMAN, SALVATORE, ARMSTRONG, LAVALLE
AND BODACK, JUNE 9, 1998
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 9, 1998
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging Congress to pass legislation protecting the area
2 surrounding the Iwo Jima Memorial from future encroachment.
3 WHEREAS, The Marine Corps' Iwo Jima Memorial honors the
4 marines who fought on that island during WW II; and
5 WHEREAS, The memorial depicts six men as they struggle to
6 raise an American flag atop a mountain, signaling defeat to
7 their enemy and hope to their comrades below; and
8 WHEREAS, The battle was the most costly in Marine history.
9 The 36 days of fighting led to 25,851 casualties, over a third
10 of the landing force, including more than 1,000 dead per square
11 mile. More Medals of Honor were won on Iwo Jima than during any
12 other battle in United States history. Admiral Nimitz remarked
13 that among the sailors and marines on Iwo Jima, "uncommon valor
14 was a common virtue"; and
15 WHEREAS, The Iwo Jima Memorial may be obscured by an Air
16 Force Memorial - a sprawling 20,000 square-foot, five-story,
17 high-tech, interactive multimedia complex. Such a structure
1 would be appropriate in front of the heavily trafficked Air and
2 Space Museum, the site first approved for the structure; and
3 WHEREAS, During National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
4 hearings, the location changed abruptly to ground 500 feet in
5 front of the Marines' memorial. Though the NCPC originally voted
6 twice, 7-4 against the site, it reversed its decision in a
7 little-publicized meeting; and
8 WHEREAS, The Marine Corps was only informed after the fact.
9 No public hearings were held. The proposal clearly violates a
10 United States law that says, "A commemorative work shall (not
11 encroach) upon any existing commemorative work."; therefore be
12 it
13 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania urge the Congress
14 of the United States to consider and pass S-1284, HR-3188 or HR-
15 2313, each of which would prohibit future memorials in the area
16 desired by the Air Force; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
18 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
19 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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