Spring Break
Proposed memorial causes controversy
Matt Campbell and David Goldstein
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Nation & World News
WASHINGTON (MCT) - It could be the last battle of World War I, nearly 100 years later. A Republican congressman from Texas wants to create a memorial to the "war to end all wars" on the National Mall.
But Kansas City feels like it already has that covered. Congress, after all, has designated the city's Liberty Memorial as the National World War I Museum. It's also a National Historic Landmark.
To bolster its claim, the Missouri congressional delegation is behind legislation to ensure that Kansas City serves as the anchor for events surrounding the centennial commemoration of the war, which will get under way in 2014.
"If the World War I monument is established in Washington, it essentially takes the Liberty Memorial off the map," said Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, who sponsored the bill in the House. "What are they going to take next? Gates Barbecue? This is not a little matter. It's a major issue for the people in Missouri."
Republican Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri sponsored the Senate version of the bill.
But Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, whose office, coincidentally, is next door to Cleaver's, thinks a national memorial to the doughboys of the Great War ought to be in the nation's capital and on the mall.
The Korean, Vietnam and Second World Wars all have monuments there.
Poe offered his bill last week, standing alongside Frank Buckles, the last living World War I veteran among nearly 5 million who served. Buckles was born in Bethany, Mo., 107 years ago.
Poe's bill calls for the already existing District of Columbia World War I Memorial to be expanded so that it commemorates everyone who fought in the conflict.
"There's not a memorial for all the World War I veterans among all the other memorials," said Poe spokeswoman DeeAnn Thigpen. "This is something that the congressman is very passionate about."
The Cleaver and Bond bills could get approved before Congress goes home next week. Poe's might not be considered until next year.
But Kansas City feels like it already has that covered. Congress, after all, has designated the city's Liberty Memorial as the National World War I Museum. It's also a National Historic Landmark.
To bolster its claim, the Missouri congressional delegation is behind legislation to ensure that Kansas City serves as the anchor for events surrounding the centennial commemoration of the war, which will get under way in 2014.
"If the World War I monument is established in Washington, it essentially takes the Liberty Memorial off the map," said Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, who sponsored the bill in the House. "What are they going to take next? Gates Barbecue? This is not a little matter. It's a major issue for the people in Missouri."
Republican Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri sponsored the Senate version of the bill.
But Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, whose office, coincidentally, is next door to Cleaver's, thinks a national memorial to the doughboys of the Great War ought to be in the nation's capital and on the mall.
The Korean, Vietnam and Second World Wars all have monuments there.
Poe offered his bill last week, standing alongside Frank Buckles, the last living World War I veteran among nearly 5 million who served. Buckles was born in Bethany, Mo., 107 years ago.
Poe's bill calls for the already existing District of Columbia World War I Memorial to be expanded so that it commemorates everyone who fought in the conflict.
"There's not a memorial for all the World War I veterans among all the other memorials," said Poe spokeswoman DeeAnn Thigpen. "This is something that the congressman is very passionate about."
The Cleaver and Bond bills could get approved before Congress goes home next week. Poe's might not be considered until next year.
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