Tomb of Unknowns: Repair or replace?

Tomb of Unknowns: Repair or replace?
By Dennis Camire - Gannett News Service
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 15:08:36 EST

ARLINGTON, Va. — A proposal to replace the cracked and weathered white marble monument that crowns the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery has stirred up a years-long controversy.

The always-guarded tomb to the nation’s war dead is a potent symbol of sacrifice and patriotism and the above-ground monument, which has cracks running 48 feet around it, is the most visible part of it.

Congress authorized the tomb in 1921 as a memorial to honor the unknown dead of World War I, which had ended three years earlier. On Nov. 11 that year — then known as Armistice Day and now Veterans Day — an unidentified American soldier from the war was interred in an underground vault.

“The Tomb of the Unknowns is the most important war memorial in America, bar none,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “It is iconic in the regard in which it’s held by all Americans, but especially veterans and families of those who have died in our country’s wars.”

For years, Army officials have studied the idea of building a replica because of concerns that the damage, which is getting worse despite repairs, is distracting from the monument’s solemn appearance. Moreover, officials say, replacement marble is becoming scarce and should be secured now.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/gns_tomb_unknown_110708w/%2e

I've noticed it for years and agree that continuing to repair rather than just replaced shows that the Tomb is cared for. Would we replace Mt. Rushmore because of a few cracks? Its only historic once, after that its a restoration or re-creation.