A Veteran's Perspective on the Triumphal Arch

My name is Francisco Munoz, and I am a member of NPCA’s Veterans Council. I am a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, a public servant of over a decade working in veterans advocacy and an American who sees himself reflected in the everyday stories of those around me. 

I served in Helmand Province during the most intense days of the Afghanistan war. During my deployment, living to see another day became a beautiful burden, and a constant reminder of the liberty I was fighting for.

As we mark the 250th year of this nation, I ask you to recognize military service and sacrifice not as an inherent entitlement of American freedom, but as an admirable commitment to justice. As I learn more about the proposed Triumphal Arch at the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery, I think about the great dishonor this structure would be to our fallen servicemembers and their families.

Here are three reasons I oppose construction of the proposed Triumphal Arch.

1) The Triumphal Arch was not approved by Congress.

Federal law requires any new monuments built on federal lands in Washington, D.C., to be authorized by Congress. But plans for the Triumphal Arch have bypassed this process, avoiding typical public input and oversight.

Few Americans understand the backdoor tactics the administration is using to install this unnecessary and pretentious monument. I see this shady approach as an infringement on our First Amendment rights. 

2) The Arch would impede the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial Circle, just outside the cemetery entrance, has been left open for a reason — to maintain an unobstructed sightline from Arlington to the Lincoln Memorial. This view is a symbol of unity and reconciliation between the North and the South after the Civil War. The Arch would forever change this. 

Planners have already said construction could occur upwards of 20 hours a day for months, even years. Imagine military funerals happening against the backdrop of 300-foot cranes and industrial noise. For those with loved ones now resting at Arlington, grieving is not an easy experience. Picture how much harder it will be for those dealing with this eternal pain with the intrusive sounds and constant change of environment.

As someone who lives with PTSD and will for the rest of my life, I also know how challenging this disruption could be for families and comrades. It is the last thing I’d ever want any of my fellow Americans to live through, especially when visiting this sacred place.

3) This vanity project would literally overshadow sections of Arlington National Cemetery.

Walking through the cemetery can be a spiritual experience that connects us to the legacy of Americans who have come before us. For many, it is also a moment to grieve.

But imagine arriving at these hallowed grounds and being met with crowds and tour buses, while sightseers look down on the cemetery from 160 feet in the air.

The peace for those who are there to seek closure or reflect on cherished memories of someone they will never see again would be ruined. The Arch would turn Memorial Circle into a tourist attraction just outside the gates of these hallowed grounds.

Holding Ourselves to The Highest Possible Standard

Those in favor of the Arch say we need it to mirror other global cities. But we are a one-of-a-kind nation, and comparison is not needed.

Memorials are meant to preserve the memory of a group or historical event. But having this vanity project outside the gates of Arlington National Cemetery would disgrace sacred land dedicated to our most esteemed uniformed personnel.

As a United States Marine, I look to uphold our nation’s highest standards of civic engagement. I will forever believe those are worth fighting for. We honor the dead and fight for the living by not allowing ourselves to be disrespected. But above all, we must commit to upholding an American legacy of humbling exceptionalism, not vanity.