Billy Berler, billy.berler@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Trump on Sunday announced that his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle would double as a military complex. According to a post on Truth Social, Trump says the site would house a large number of drones, station snipers on the roof and plaza, and store large quantities of sniper ammunition.
Memorial Circle is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and sits at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery on National Park Service land.
Sherman Neal II, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program and a Marine Corps veteran, said:
“Trump, and his efforts to militarize our communities and public lands continue to place service members in the unenviable position of carrying out actions that conflict with the values they serve to defend. His proposal is immoral and illogical, and it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of why Americans fight, why service members sacrifice for each other, and how we should honor Arlington National Cemetery. We must continue to reject militarization of our public lands.”
The National Park Service has already found that the arch would adversely affect historic properties, yet the administration has said initial digging at Memorial Circle could begin as early as today.
Sierra Club has opposed construction of the proposed 250-foot arch on National Park Service land since the project became public. On July 9, representatives from Sierra Club and Sierra Club Military Outdoors testified before the National Capital Planning Commission about the project’s effect on the landscape surrounding Arlington National Cemetery.
Sierra Club continues to participate in the federal review process and work with veterans and public lands partners opposing the project. Sierra Club has urged federal agencies to reject the proposal and prevent construction at Memorial Circle.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.