1. You previously submitted
for my review several proposals for the placement of memorials at Riverside
National Cemetery. One request was to site a statue entitled “The Veterans
Memorial and a second request proposed placement of a War Dog Memorial. My
responses to you by letters of February 19, 1999 and March 16.1999. Indicated
that the issues relating to placement of both of these memorials would be
referred to the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials for their
consideration and recommendation.
2. The Advisory Committee met in ‘Washington,
DC. on June 8 - 9, 1 999, and considered the issues
of memorials In national cemeteries in
general, and of the proposed memorials at Riverside National Cemetery in
particular. It was the recommendation of the Advisory Committee that “The
Veterans Memorial” be approved for placement in Riverside National Cemetery. The Advisory Committee believed this
statue, sited along the pathway near lake A, would be an appropriate tribute
to those veterans who died in combat, and would communicate the “ultimate
sacrifice” of our veterans to those who may visit the cemetery The Advisory
Committee further believed the acceptance of this memorial should require the
establishment of adequate assurance of perpetual maintenance for the memorial
by the donor. The Advisory Committee recommended that
the War Dog memorial not be accepted for placement in the Riverside National
Cemetery. The Advisory Committee believed this memorial was commemorating the
dog instead of the men and women who served in defense of this nation. Our
national cemeteries serve as shrines to the individuals who served and who are
interred in these sacred grounds. It was thought that a memorial to war dogs
or to any other animal incidental to military service would be inappropriate
for placement in a national cemetery.
3.
All information relating to these two memorials has been carefully considered
and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee pertaining to ‘The
Veterans Memorial” and the War Dog Memorial have been carefully considered.
Accordingly, “The Veterans Memorial will” be accepted and the War Dog
Memorial will not be accepted for placement at Riverside National Cemetery. I
agree with the view of the Advisory Committee that this memorial is not
appropriate for
placement
in a site devoted to the sacrifice of the men and women who served in defense
of our country.
4.
The
contribution of war dogs to America’s war efforts has certainly been
courageous and noteworthy; however, a memorial to their service may more
appropriately be considered at a military base where war dogs are trained, or
some other location more directly associated with war
dog activities.
5.
Please
communicate my decisions to those who most generously offered these memorials
and extend to them my personal appreciation for considering the Riverside
National Cemetery. Also: please discuss with the donor of “The Veterans
Memorial” the need to assure that perpetual maintenance of the memorial is
addressed in the conditions of donation.
