Federal relief for struggling D-Day Memorial could be two years away

BEDFORD -- As the National D-Day Memorial Foundation takes the drastic step of laying off staff members and considers partially closing for the winter, relief from the federal government could be as far away as two years.

Since announcing the memorial's dire financial situation this year, the foundation's president, William McIntosh, has pushed for a union between the eight-year-old attraction and the National Park Service. The foundation worked with lawmakers to study the memorial's potential of being declared a national monument through the federal Antiquities Act, which would speed up the process.

"That's the silver bullet in terms of keeping this initiative in play," McIntosh said last week.

An assessment team from the Northeast Region of the park service visited the memorial in August for several days.

Terrence D. Moore, chief of park planning and special studies, who was part of that team, said Friday that a draft is being reviewed but has not yet been sent to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on whether the act is a suitable measure. He said during an August news conference at the memorial that the report could recommend "the appropriate vehicle" of preserving the memorial, but that may not include the park service.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama recently signed legislation proposed by Democratic Sens. Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb and Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, that authorizes a full National Park Service study of the memorial.

Moore said such a review would normally take two years to complete, depending on the funding, and would include holding public meetings.

The memorial was dedicated in 2001 in the city of Bedford and pays tribute to the largest land, sea and air operation in military history. Bedford lost 19 men during the invasion, the highest per capita loss of any city, which led to the decision to build it there.

McIntosh has said the nonprofit that operates the memorial is losing money because of a drop in donations. It will not go into debt to keep operating, he said.

Eleven staff positions were eliminated, the foundation recently announced, which is nearly 50 percent its work force.

McIntosh said the foundation is also considering how it would operate through winter when visitation is expected to decline.

"My inclination is we'll be open year-round but during winter months by appointment," he said. "We will do what we have to do to proceed."

An announcement would be made to the let the public know if that measure is taken.
Justin Faulconer is a staff writer for The News & Advance in Lynchburg.