Replace or Repair the Tomb of the Unknowns?
Monday October 22, 2007
In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknowns was first established in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. as a monument to all U.S. soldiers that had died but whose remains remained unidentified. The large marble monument that rests above the crypt of the unknown soldier from World War I was placed in the memorial plaza in 1931. This monument, which bears the phrase "Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God," has been slowly deteriorating over the last several decades. In addition to general weathering, two, large cracks have formed.
Since the entire concept of having a Tomb of Unknowns is to honor fallen soldiers, many expect the monument to be as perfect as the soldiers who guard it 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. So the question has been raised: Should the monument be patched up to keep the historical first monument in place or should the monument be replaced entirely? What do you think? (Please post your thoughts by clicking "comments" below.)
Comments
Just patch it up. The honored servicemen deserve to have a decent memorial and it would not be fitting to replace it.
They desrve the Honour of a New Monument. Incorporate the undamaged sections in the new Bigger one
It is such a beautiful and simple monument. It should be preserved. If it is not an option to preserve all of it then it should be incorporated in to a new monument. I agree with both Joan and Hans. I wouldn’t want to see it made into some huge, modernistic display though. Keep it simple.
It is high time the American people look to ‘preserving’ the history of our fore fathers. Don’t get me started on my ’soap box’. By all means, do what is necessary to preserve that piece of our history, not replace it!!
We have wonderful technology now; patch the bad parts to the best of our ability;most of all honor these precious men.
Do the repairs, may he rest in peace
patch as much of the old one as can be and if need be incorparate as little of a new as neededot honor these brave men who should beable to sleep in peace
I think they should “restore” the existing one… it’s been a focus of honor for decades and a new one would never be the same.
If the job can be done to make the tomb last,thjen fix it. If not replace
Preserve the existing one. No need to throw out the old. The old has meaning and character.
I believe it should be repaired if possible. Otherwise replace it with an exact replica, made from the same original marble and re-entomb the remains in a dignified ceremony.
I have to agree, an attemp should be made to repair the Tomb if it’s at all possible. However, if it can not be done then it should be replaced with an exact reproduction but, at all cost it’s dignity and nobility must be preserved!
Preserve it by patching it up. Money is scarce.
bob
Newer is not necessarily better. Traditions need to be honored. Fix it up and keep the tomb those dedicated men have been guarding all these years.
It should be patched and fixed. It is a piece of history and should be preserved like any other piece of history.
The original monument has more meaning than any new one could. By looking at the original visitors can experience the amount of time that has passed and see the style of monument that people felt was appropriate at the time. History requires original sources to be understood. The first monument is such a source. Don’t replace it – if needed augment it with a newer addition.
Unfortunatly America has become A “throw-away” society, but this Monument to Honor Those fallen men that only God knows should be kept intact at all costs.Repair it, augment it and above all allow these Men the dignity they deserve. You dont see other cultures through out the world tearing down monuments.
As an Englishman you may think it inappropriate for me to comment on another nations monuments but I agree entirely with the remarks of both Tim Parker (#16) and Dennis Hamlin (#17).
Although I have never seen the monument in question, I have seen the splendid memorials erected to US servicemen of both World Wars in Europe and found them as impressive and well kept as the Commonwealth memorials across Western Europe. Preserve the memorial in Arlington and cherish it.
All I can write is AMEN to most of what has been written. Conserve the present monument and all for which it stands. New is not always better. We need to increase our respect and understanding of the past, not just wipe it away.
I agree with so many of the comments. Keep the mememorial as it has such dignity and elegant simplicity. Repair it by all means but do not tear it down. So much of America’s past and history gets torn down. We need to appreciate, cherish and respect our past.
I spent my time in the Military and I’ve had the honor of visiting this great Memorial. There is a sense of Peace and Humility that not only includes the Memorial but the memory of ALL who lost their lives. You can ask any Servicemen or woman, or most Americans, and they can describe the Memorial. It NEEDS to stay as it is. Repair it, seal it if needs be, but NEVER replace it. No high-tech composite, plastic, or metal will ever be able to compare with this simple piece of white marble.
Arlington commissioned a two year engineering study about the tomb, and it was concluded that the tomb CANNOT BE REPAIRED. The recommendations by the firm were either replacement or enclosure. Arlington wants a precise replica in white marble, not a composite. It would be superior to the original monument in every way. It is not showing our dead honor to continue with a cracked monument.
Replacement the Tomb, PERIOD.