Statement from the American Battle Monuments Commission regarding the National Capital Planning Commission's June 13-14 Hearing on the National World War II Memorial

    WASHINGTON, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from the
 American Battle Monuments Commission regarding the National Capital Planning
 Commission's June 13-14 hearing on the National World War II Memorial:
 
     We regret that the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) must re-
 evaluate its approvals of the National WWII Memorial.  On five previous
 occasions, the NCPC approved the memorial site and design in open public
 meetings during which members of the public, expressing opinions pro and con,
 had the opportunity to be heard.  Now, because of a technical glitch in its
 procedures, the Commission must revisit its approval of the memorial's final
 design.  So be it.  We are confident the commissioners will once again
 recognize the merits of the design and give its full approval.
     Over the past five years, the memorial site and design already have been
 the subject of 22 public hearings in compliance with the Commemorative Works
 Act.  What's most unfortunate is that this further delays putting to rest the
 legal challenge to the memorial, as well as the start of construction.
 Thousands of WWII veterans will now be deprived of seeing the memorial
 completed.  We will lose another 45,000 alone from this day forward until the
 technical issue is resolved on June 14.
     Last October, the Senate and House unanimously called for expeditious
 completion of the memorial.  Eight years have passed since the memorial was
 authorized.  The site and design have been approved; all the necessary funds
 have been raised; and a construction permit has been issued.  We remain
 confident that we will prevail.
 
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SOURCE  American Battle Monuments Commission