- The USS ARIZONA MARINE REMEMBRANCE, on Halawa Landing, Pearl Harbor, was
dedicated in 2005 by Gen Michael Hagee, then Commandant of the Marine Corps, along with Col Jack Earle, the senior surviving Marine
of the USS ARIZONA Marine Detachment. Then Capt Earle, had just taken command of the MarDet on 6 December 1941, only
hours before that infamous attack. Gen Peter Pace, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff is a strong advocate of keeping it
in place. Gen James T. Conway, current Commandant of the Marine Corps made a special trip to come visit and support
the Marine Remembrance just last Tuesday, 22 Feb 2007.
- This seven ton commerative flag base and display had the names
of all 88 Marines that served then, of which 73 are still eternally entombed aboard the USS ARIZONA. It is very professionally
done and I will supply photos on request should you desire them.
- The US Navy has amended the property lease to allow the Natl Park
Service (NPS) who administers the USS ARIZONA Memorial to renovate as the old structure is sinking. A necessary project.
- The Natl Park Service, Jon Jarvis, Director Pacific
Region NPS, by name, has decided that honoring the Marines is not important and will not fit into his artist concept
of what the water front should look like. Jon Jarvis, incidently, has never served a day in America's military.
He doesn't/couldn't understand the passion of Marines taking care of Marines.
- The NPS (Jon Jarvis presiding) held a press confrence last
Friday morning at the USS ARIZONA Memorial and made some very disturbing statements. Of which, he claimed that inspite
of the huge support of all Marines from the CJCS down to the young enlisted Marines for the Marine Remembrance, because
the NPS will have the lease as of 1 May 2007, he wants the entire acreage turned over as an empty
parking lot. He kept refering to the Marine Remembrance as "that flagpole" and obviously has no
respect whatsoever for those that Marines that gave their lives for their Country that day.
- He has caused such a huge outcry, far beyond that of just the
USMC, that this is about to become national news. And that is why I'm giving you first right of refusal for this story.
There is a ground-swell building that will demand his immediate dismissal as he has shown he is not fit to
represent the public and their desires. I've been in contact with Mary Bomar's office, director of the NPS in Washinton
D.C., who says all decisions regarding the Marine Remembrance are defered to Jon Jarvis for action. It seems that by
all counts, he is the one responsible.
If you are interested, I can be reached at 808-546-1942 as well as my
email address.
Thanks for your time.
Semper Fidelis,
7 Arizona Memorial Way
Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
Below is a copy of the email I sent to Jon Jarvis yesterday.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 2:03 PM
Mr. Jon Jarvis, Pacific Region, Director for the National Park Service (NPS)
That was very rude of you and the NPS to not invite PHVC to the news conference at the USS ARIZONA
yesterday. So, when we heard about it, we invited ourselves.
With the exception of one radio show, PHVC has invited NPS to every one of our interviews in order to provide a balanced view. (one show was
short notice and I couldn't reach Doug) I see that such a courtesy is not reciprocal.
I asked Doug if the two of you would join us for lunch for some face to face discussion following the press conference - obviously
that offer was declined.
I find it disturbing that you, a man that is charged with representing the public,
would have the gall to say that the USS ARIZONA MARINE REMEMBRANCE is not a fitting tribute to our Marines. The Commandant of the
Marine Corps and the senior surviving member of the Marine Detachment, USS ARIZONA, Colonel John Earle, USMC (ret) certainly
thought so when they dedicated it in November 2005. General Peter Pace, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff certainly thought
it was important when he sent his strong letter of support. General James T. Conway, present Commandant of the Marine
Corps who made a special visit to the USS ARIZONA MARINE REMEMBRANCE just four days ago to show his support and stated that
it is exactly where it is suppose to be will certainly take issue with your decision to move it. Are you saying that
these, the most senior of military leaders are wrong?
And incidentally, we made
a very special effort to have a representative of the NPS come meet the Commandant personally last Tuesday. By NPS
refusal to meet him does NOT SET WELL with Marines or the general public.
Your insistence on referring to the Marine Remembrance as "THAT flagpole" is a discredit to all Marines, past
and present. You stated that it should be removed because it is an inadequate memorial to them. Do we take that
to remark to mean that "nothing is better than something" or do you have plans to build an even larger, more impressive
memorial to those Marines? If the answer is the latter, NPS won't have to pay one dime. We, the Marines support
that proposal fully and are anxious to start construction immediately.
A final point I need to clarify. I've been told
by others that you have never served a day of active duty in any of our military services. Correct me if I'm wrong.
If that is the case, it is understandable (but not forgivable) that you have such little appreciation of our countries warriors.
Please respond and I will ensure that your comments will be
passed via several websites that are read by the Marines you care so little for.
Semper Fidelis to our Country and Corps,
