If passed, the bill will have specific implications regarding the site of the memorial. The Secretary of Agriculture will have the authority to determine the exact location and conditions for the memorial's installation. Importantly, no federal funds will be allocated for the relocation and maintenance of the memorial; instead, the individual or entity requesting the relocation will bear all associated costs. This requirement aims to ensure that the memorial's installation does not impose additional financial burdens on federal resources.
Summary
House Bill 3584, titled the 'Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act', aims to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relocate a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members who lost their lives during a training mission airplane crash in 1982. The proposed relocation site is adjacent to the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County, North Carolina, within the Nantahala National Forest. This act is significant as it attempts to preserve the memory of these service members and ensure that the memorial remains accessible to the public in a site deemed appropriate by officials.
Contention
There have been discussions surrounding the terms of the memorial's relocation, particularly regarding site approval which requires concurrence from both the North Carolina Department of Transportation and potentially the Federal Highway Administration. The inclusion of local government and associated entities in the approval process signifies a collaborative approach, though it may also raise concerns about bureaucratic delays or disputes over site selection. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to prevent any enlargement or expansion of the memorial, which could lead to debates about the memorial's representation and significance.
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relocate a memorial honoring the 9 Air Force crew members who lost their lives in an airplane crash in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests during a training mission on August 31, 1982.
Calling upon all Americans on this Memorial Day, 2024, to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.