US Gov’t. Shutdown Could Affect WWII Vets’ Memorial

National WWII memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC and Representative Steven Palazzo

 

On the occasion that the US government does shut down, the National Park Service are going to put up barricades around the National Malls’ memorials and will also close the two streets bordering it, said NPS spokeswoman Carol Johnson. This is because the park won’t have the necessary funds to keep the employees that staff the park when the unthinkable shutdown happens.

the said statement by NPS angered Representative Steven Palazzo of Mississippi.

“It’s a huge disservice to our World War II veterans, to whom we owe so much,” Palazzo said. “For them to step off the bus and be met with Park Service personnel and barricades, it’s heartbreaking. And it makes me fighting mad.”

Regardless of the shutdown, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight will escort 91 WWII veterans who are from the Gulf Coast to the WWII memorial Tuesday morning  and the Mississippi representative will be there to greet them.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the memorial erected in their honor,” he added.

For the majority of the veterans with ages ranging from 84 to 98, it will be their first-time trip to Washington and Palazzo just can’t afford to let them down.

Aside from Mississippi, ten other states are scheduled to visit the said WWII monument over the next week.

The representative had already sent a letter to president Obama and had made calls to NPS asking them for access to the memorial. He cannot understand why the federal government had to shut down the park when it is an open-air esplanade in the first place.

“Why would they spend the time and effort to barricade something that’s generally open to the public day and night?” he mused. “They are going to have to spend extra money just to keep people out.”

-Article based on USA Today News

 

Heziel Pitogo

Heziel Pitogo is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE