‘We’re not a sideshow’: Military families blast Trump’s arch observation deck for tourists

(CNN) — President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch did not originally include the idea for an open-air observation deck that would tower 161 feet above the surrounding landscape.

The feature, which would give tourists a 360-degree panoramic view, was only added to the design later when the Trump administration revealed the plans to the public, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Now that addition is bringing fresh concern to military families, who are contending with a distressing thought: Will visitors get a bird’s-eye view to their pain as their loved ones are buried at Arlington National Cemetery just across the river from the looming edifice?

“It’s just the wrong place to put a vantage point because this is very much seeing people on the worst day of their life,” said Laurie Laplante, from Poland, Ohio, who buried her father-in-law, a Navy veteran, at Arlington Cemetery last year.

With memories of his burial still fresh, Laplante said she would be “sick to her stomach” if tourists were watching, and potentially even recording, any part of his funeral from the observation deck.

“I can’t imagine if some observers were behind us doing a phone video of this or thinking that this might be up on somebody’s social media somewhere at some point – it’s just awful.”

The further development that Trump envisions the arch doubling as a “military complex” has only compounded concerns about the project.

“It’s getting a little ridiculous, honestly,” said Frank Stolba, a veteran who oversaw more than 50 funerals when he was in the Navy as a petty officer.

One Gold Star family member, who asked not to be named citing privacy concerns, noted that this “wasn’t part of the original plans, that wasn’t approved, that wasn’t commented on.”

“We just want to see a baseline of respect, and, you know, wild changes and things like this detract from what’s important to actual surviving families,” the person said.

A White House official told CNN that Trump’s announced change of the arch for military use will not alter the tourism plans.

Gold Star families and veterans who spoke to CNN say they find the deck intrusive, as it would give observers intimate views of the grounds, potentially allowing tourists to witness the over two dozen funerals that are conducted each weekday.

Andrea Nachman, whose husband is buried at Arlington, said: “It’s not what we in the military families would want – it’s very private, we’re not a sideshow.”

Davis Ingle, a spokesperson for the White House, told CNN the arch “will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike.”

But the White House did not answer CNN’s questions about whether there would be protocol changes for military funerals at Arlington to protect families’ privacy.

According to documents obtained by CNN, the administration has suggested a series of short-term steps that can be taken to alleviate disruptions to ceremonies during the arch’s construction, including controlling temporary construction lighting, a goal to coordinate with Arlington to avoid construction during funerals, and restricting work hours with high noise during services.

The cemetery is expansive, with rolling hills and trees that are hundreds of years old providing shade and cover.

Funerals at the cemetery are highly choreographed. Each movement is executed with precision as a final way to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The cemetery itself is already a tourist destination, with visitors able to talk a formal walking tour or a self-guided one.

It is already common to see a funeral at the cemetery but those familiar with the grounds say that visitors to Arlington approach the space with decorum, understanding its purpose as a place of rest for the fallen as they stand amid the gravestones.

However, that same attitude may not translate from a vantage point.

“An observation deck sends the message that these funerals are a spectacle,” said Ashley Bernardi, a Gold Star daughter. “What guidelines are going to be put in place on the observation deck to ensure that these are very sacred?” she wondered.

“Why the hell would somebody put an observation deck on top of this arch?” asked Vietnam War veteran Ronn Easton, who has criticized the Trump administration in the past. “The solemn private nature of that ceremony is gone if people can stand on the top of this 250-foot vanity project with a pair of binoculars and look at what’s going on in Arlington.”

The latest renderings of the arch’s plans show the observation level on the 5th floor. The floors below have areas for security, a ticketing lobby, restrooms and spaces for a potential gift shop and cafe.

In late August, the administration began referring to it as a “military observation deck,” a shift in rhetoric that gave a first indication of the president’s new justification for building the arch.

Earlier this month, when the National Parks Service official who is overseeing the administration’s proposal was asked at a meeting evaluating the arch’s potential impact on historical sites whether the language adjustment indicated a change in its intended purpose or use, she replied: “Not that I’m aware.”

Days later, Trump announced his new plans for the structure, which would including allowing drones to be launched and snipers to be positioned atop the arch.

The-CNN-Wire
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