WWII MEMORIAL

Res ipsa loquitur

100 Yards from Vietnam Memorial

I have been asking the National Park Service to open the building at the WWII Memorial to a limited and tasteful selection of interpretive and appropriate WWII books. Their response to date:  "...we are deliberate in our decision making process with respect to how to appropriately interpret any and all of our sites" and "...approval by the National Capital Planing Commission and the Fine Arts Commission will be required....". This shed that you see above sits right on the Mall 100 yards from the Vietnam Memorial, one of the most elegant and beautiful Memorials to our veterans.  This is pretty "deliberate".... and tasteful, eh?

I assume the National Park Service got together with the Fine Arts Commission to hire Jed Clampett as the architect.  Quite frankly, if this is what they might build at the WWII Memorial, I would stop asking....but the WWII Memorial building is already there (see below) and obviously wasn't designed by them.  If you click on the picture below, you can see the wide variety of "tasteful interpretive material" they have chosen.  I am awestruck. This certainly negates the Mandarin class of NPS employees from any claim to good taste and any right to interpretation.  The least they could have done is hired a good carpenter!!!  I'll throw in a gallon of paint!!! 

 

WWII Memorial Building

Unflappable

Much like the National Park Service, the so-called Canadian Geese have immigrated to the United States and sit fat and happy enjoying the largesse of the American People.  The leadership of the Park Service are currently asking for 50 million they claim they need to "maintain" the National Mall. They might try selling books at the WWII Memorial. Currently, the only literature available is at least l/2 mile away. The Visitors Center to the South of the Memorial has twenty plus windows and plenty of room for literature. 

I have made a proposal to them which would enable me to lower the price of WWII Memorial: Jewel of the Mall book and further the National Park Service's "interpretive role". They would also pull in a couple of hundred thousand for themselves lessening their need at the public trough.  I guess they don't need the money after all! 

Unfortunately, it looks like the folks in the "country club" (check out the imported luxury cars in the lot...) on Haines Point would have to get off their duffs and be a bit creative. If you feel the book should be sold at the Memorial, write Christopher Jarvi, Associate Director of the National Park Service.  

Touring with rangers

National Park Service Rangers are always available to do group tours of the Memorial. The National Park Service is adapting to the new Memorial and providing better services and accomodations to visitors. The rangers know the Memorial intimately and a guided tour will surprise you in the complexity of the Memorial. The Memorial looks simple in design but the bas reliefs alone comprise 255 characters and depict scenes not only of the war but the home front and other significant activity during the War. 

President Clinton

I photographed President Clinton last Fall at a signing for his book "Giving." We had the chance to trade books. He's a terrific person to be with and his enthusiasm for life is contagious and his memory for people is astonishing This is the note he sent me and I have it framed. He signed the legislation giving the authorization to build the WWII Memorial. It's nice to think that a former President might have your book hanging around the house.

National Park Traveler Review of the Book

Bob Janiskee of National Park Traveler did an excellent review of my "Jewel of the Mall" book.

To quote: ..."This is a powerful book. It will please your eye and bring your patriotic juices to boil. One caveat: If you have fancied yourself a fair photographer, paging through this book may make you want to take your camera out of the case and throw it away. I’m not sure how many photo books of the World War II Memorial you think you need, but if you can only get one, this should be it."....