Apparently, there are cracks in the marble of the Tomb Of The Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetary severe enough to require replacing the tomb itself:
ARLINGTON, Va. — Most visitors are probably too busy watching the poised and polished guards make their endless march in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns to see the cracks that wrap their way across the white marble monument like string around a package.
Each year, those cracks creep farther and deeper.
The 74-year-old monument, the scene of Memorial Day wreath-layings by the president and a must-see stop for the 4 million annual visitors to Arlington National Cemetery, is not in danger of crumbling any time soon. But the cemetery is deciding whether to patch the fissures or replace the marble altogether.
“We know this is not a stagnant thing,” said John Metzler, the cemetery’s superintendent. “This thing is continuing to move.”
Cemetery officials are taking public comments through Aug. 6 and plan to choose an option by September. The cemetery could repair it, do nothing or buy an extra marble block and store it as a standby if the tomb continues to deteriorate.
A 1990 report concluded that within 10 to 20 years, the damage could lead to a “negative effect on visitor’s experiences.” Metzler said he feared some of the carved sculptures could eventually fall off.
The Tomb Of The Unknowns, of course, is not just any monument:
Beneath the marble structure is a crypt holding the remains of three unidentified servicemen killed in the two world wars and the Korean War. A Vietnam War soldier buried there was later identified through DNA testing and removed. An inscription on the tomb reads: “Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known But to God.”
When it comes to restoring this monument, I don’t think I’m alone in saying whatever it takes
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Catholic Carnival: Improving with Age
This is, IMHO, the best Catholic Carnival I?ve worked on. From the deeply personal to the complete works of Saint Gaspar, it contains an amazing array of topics. I took them in the order I received the submissions. Enjoy: Beyond…
November 11th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
[...] Cemetery was in need of serious repair, if not complete replacement — I noted the fact back in August of 2006 — but apparently the fate of one of the nation’s most solemn memorials has yet to be [...]