New Tomb monument bogged in red tape

WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- The flap over whether to replace or repair the cracking Tomb of the Unknowns is engulfed in bureaucratic red tape from Washington to tiny Marble, Colo.

A creamy-colored, 60-ton block of marble in Colorado appears to be right for a replacement of the Arlington National Cemetery monument that's been sporting cracks for 16 years, the Denver Post said.

But, Beltway wrangling has the issue in doubt. First, there's the decision to be made as whether to repair the cracks or bring in a new rock. Then, there's the marble itself, taken from the same quarry as the 1931 original and already donated for the monument. But, now there's a question of whether bids should be taken.

And, the National Cemetery Division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has to wait until the Virginia Historical Society and national historic preservation societies determine that replacement won't violate historical compliance regulations.