Aging Tomb of Unknowns may be replaced

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- A bill has been introduced in Congress to replace the Tomb of the Unknowns, one of Washington’s most iconic landmarks.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, authored the measure that would authorize a new sarcophagus to replace the current one, which is 71 years old and has developed a number of cracks.

An Army spokesman told The Washington Times Saturday that the measure was being studied by the Pentagon.

The marble tomb at Arlington National Cemetery weighs 48 tons and marks the remains of unidentified servicemen from each war. The newspaper said the cracks are mainly aesthetic and not an indication the edifice is in danger of falling apart