Tear it Down Anyway

The Phase II Intensive-Level Survey of the Confederate Memorial is a demonstration on how to appear concerned about balance yet deliver the required result. The survey was commissioned by Army National Military Cemeteries (ANMC).

“Based on the results of this survey, ANMC believes that the ANC Confederate Memorial is potentially individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria A and C.”

My understanding is that a “place” only needs to qualify under one criterion for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Confederate Memorial qualifies because:

• “it constitutes a significant physical example of the contested national effort to commemorate the Civil War…” and,
• “its design by sculptor Moses Ezekiel, a master sculptor whose distinctive work stands out from other Confederate memorials constructed during the same period of significance.”

Let me summarize. The report says that the Confederate Memorial would likely qualify for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Clear enough. The report also contains all the dubious “history” we are all familiar with and it describes the process they went through to determine it would likely qualify.

The report ends with a section titled “Assessment of Potential Effect”. In this section they discuss the potential issues with implementing the Naming Commission’s recommendations. Their conclusion is that the “action should not impact the integrity of location, workmanship, feeling or associations of the overall ANC Historic District in a way that would change ANC’s status as a National Register Historic District.”

Allow me to summarize again. The Confederate Memorial would likely qualify for the National Register of Historic Places under two different criteria. One criterion is directly related to Ezekiel’s piece of art. Not to worry though. Even with the removal of the bronze elements, Arlington National Cemetery’s status as a National Register Historic District is safe. In other words, tear it down anyway.