* Jon
Jarvis, Pacific Region, Director for the National Park Service (NPS) "kept referring to it as 'that flagpole,'
every time we mentioned
the Marine Remembrance."
The USS ARIZONA Marine Corps remembrance was created
and dedicated in November of 2005 at Pearl Harbor Navy Base Hawaii, honoring the 88 Marines who served on the USS
ARIZONA as well as the 73 Marines which are still entombed.
The seven ton bronze monument honors all sea-
going Marines, who have always been an integral part of the Department of the Navy since 10 November 1775. The seven tons are braced by rebar donated by the Navy from the USS ARIZONA's
superstructure.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 7:32 PM
Subject: After Action Report: Help save the USS ARIZONA Memorial
from the National Park Service
Interesting morning at the Press Conference. Still
trying to assess the score. First, we were not invited and showed only because we found out about it yesterday from
another source. Particularly disappointing in that we, PHVC, have invited the NPS to be with us on all but one of the
radio shows where we tried to inform the public as to what is going on at Pearl Harbor. Of course, they (NPS) never
showed.
The conference opened with an overview of what the NPS plans
for the area. That part was fairly bland and probably of only limited use to anyone. Then, Jon Jarvis,
Pacific Region Director for the National Park Service opened it up for questions. He lost his composure
quickly when he was asked if the NPS has to file an Evironmental Assessment. Really got screwy quickly when he said
that the EA wouldn't be a problem because he would be the final signature of it. The reporters were scratching their
heads saying that they never heard that an agency could approve their own environmental assessment.
Next, I asked him about the NPS plans to move the Marine Remembrance.
He said that it had to go. I told him that the CMC dedicated it in November of '05, the Chariman Joint Chiefs of
Staff is a huge supporter (and has presented us with a signed letter attesting to that fact), and the current Commandant of
the USMC was here only three days ago specifically expressing his support of it remaining where it is located.
Now is where he really locked my jaws. He (Jon Jarvis) kept referring to it as "that
flagpole" every time we mentioned the Marine Remembrance. He
also said that it shouldn't be there because the US Marines are already noted in the lower right hand corner of the USS ARIZONA
wall over the ship (which is true, but never addressed by any of the documents, when I've been there - many, many times.)
More later. Thanks again.
