Trump's Proposed Arch Would Cast Shadow on Arlington Cemetery
A new analysis by The Washington Post has found that President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch would cast a significant shadow on Arlington National Cemetery, affecting over 75,000 burial sites. According to the study, the arch's shadow would touch burial sites on 284 days of the year, including those of veterans from various wars, such as the Vietnam War, Korean War, World Wars I and II, the Spanish-American War, and the Civil War. The shadow would also fall on the graves of formerly enslaved people.
The arch's shadow would be particularly problematic for the graves of notable individuals, including John F. Kennedy, whose eternal flame would be shrouded in shadow on 18 days of the year. The shadow would also reach across Arlington Memorial Bridge toward the National Mall monuments.
The planning commission, stacked with Trump allies, is set to approve the project as early as November 5, with groundbreaking to follow shortly after. However, a federal judge is currently weighing a lawsuit from three Vietnam veterans and a preservationist seeking an emergency halt to the project.
The arch would also feature its own eternal flame, which would burn bright on some days, including July 28, Jacqueline Kennedy's birthday. However, on those days, the arch's shadow would cast a dark shadow over her husband's grave and eternal flame.
