Congressman fights to keep hallway tribute to Lejeune fallen

Posted to: Military North Carolina

The Virginian-Pilot
© July 26, 2008

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a resolution this week to allow him to keep a memorial to fallen troops from Camp Lejeune outside his Capitol Building office, according to a media statement.

Jones has become outspoken in recent weeks about a hallway policy that was approved several months ago by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The Architect of the Capitol, the office responsible for the maintenance and operation of the building, sent a memorandum to the congressman earlier this month saying the posters and easels outside Jones' office violate the new policy. The posters show pictures and list the names of troops who were stationed at the Marine camp and killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jones sent a letter to Pelosi two weeks ago asking her to address the issue, which he says affects other members of Congress who have created similar memorials.

"I am disappointed that - despite requests from several members of Congress - the speaker has declined to make an exception to the new hallway policy," Jones said in the statement.

Jones created the memorial outside his office after former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., didn't act on a resolution presented by Jones and another congressman intended to create an exhibit in the Capitol rotunda to honor troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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not sure what rep Jones is concerned about

Submitted by NCguy on Sat, 07/26/2008 at 6:23 pm.

two weeks for any action or reaction to a letter to a congressman is just plain unheard of. He has never answered his constituants in two weeks, why should he expect that of any other congressman?

Congressman Jones, as you like to point out, their is a process that must be followed and until that process runs its course, you should not interfere. Case in point, the OLF, you took over 4 years to speak up on that for Washington County, I think the Speaker has 3 years 11 months and two more weeks to answer you. How does it feel?

I do not wish to dicredit the fallen in any way and that is not my intentions I just want Jones to know how it feels to have congress ignore you.

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