Public Comments Invited On D.C. Memorials Plan

Publiccomments onthe Draft Memorials and Museums Master Plan will be accepted throughJanuary31. The master plan is the result of a two-year collaborative effort topreserve the historic open space of Washington's Monumental Core whileidentifying sites for new cultural and commemorative facilities. TheNational Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts, andtheNational Capital Memorial Commission are the three federal agenciesresponsible for the location and design of new commemorative works onfederal land. Since 1997, these three agencies have been workingtogether asthe Joint Task Force to explore the issues affecting future memorialsandmuseums. Current plans for a World War II memorial have been in thespotlight, with critics claiming that its design spoils the plan of theMalland supporters arguing that a monument to World War II veterans is longoverdue.