National Capital Planning Commission Supports Rainbow Pool Site for World War II Memorial

    WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Capital Planning
 Commission (NCPC) today joined the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) in
 reaffirming its previous approval of the Rainbow Pool site for the World
 War II Memorial.
     The commission also stated its support of the views of the CFA, which last
 week recommended modifications to the memorial's design concept.
     The NCPC asked the National Park Service to include with the submission of
 a revised design concept an analysis of several factors, including
 transportation, parking, flood management and strategies for preserving trees
 and topographical features included on the site.
     The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) stated that it will
 promptly begin making the adjustments recommended by the two commissions.
     These hearings represented the first formal reviews of a design by
 Frederick St.Florian that was selected in a national competition with more
 than 400 entries.
     In his remarks before today's commission meeting, Ambassador F. Haydn
 Williams, chairman of ABMC's Site Selection and Design Committee said that the
 basic objective remains "to construct a memorial that will be fully
 commensurate with the lasting historical significance of World War II on the
 life of America."
     "The memorial will be a continuum, linking the 20th century with America's
 past," Williams said.  "The World War II Memorial plaza with a restored
 Rainbow Pool as its centerpiece will become a new gathering place to celebrate
 the triumph of democratic ideals."
     In testimony to both commissions, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who
 introduced the legislation to build a World War II Memorial, urged a speedy
 approval of the design, saying, "We are losing our World War II veterans -- so
 there is an urgency to these proceedings."
     Rising support for this project continues as twenty-seven of the nation's
 most prominent veterans groups, 10 senators and 161 members of the House
 publicly expressed their endorsement of the memorial.
     ABMC, responsible for overseeing the design and creation of the World
 War II Memorial, administers, operates and maintains 24 permanent U.S.
 military cemeteries and 27 memorial structures in 15 countries, including five
 memorials in the U.S.
     For more information about the memorial, contact: American Battle
 Monuments Commission, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 501, Arlington, VA 22201,
 or call: 800-639-4WW2.
 
 

SOURCE  American Battle Monuments Commission