Received this good news from John Bond:
"Ewa Field is confirmed to be on the List that President Bush will use to make his announcement about "Wider Pearl Harbor National Monuments" he is naming. The President can just make something a National Monumentwithout any other Congressional Action- so it is basically"automatic".
http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/anti1906.htm
It requires no further Congressional action. It is often used by Presidents just before they leave office- so that they can leave a "Legacy" of doing a good deed for the public.
I'm sure First Lady Laura Bush has had her own personal interest in this and has helped to get her husband to go alongwith this- as it also helps recognize what her Father in Law, the former President Bush, did as a Navy pilot in the Pacific during WW-II.
I'm sure all military veterans of ALL the branches of the services will be happy about this- and also the general public as well, which will have access to preserved historic lands that might otherwise have been destroyed.
I have also learned that in fact the National Park Service and the Navy are preparing for the President's announcement by examining Ewa Field battlesites and buildings for possible preservation as a National Monument.
However, what is NOT known yet is how large of an area, and what buildings or areas will be included! ALSO- National Monument status, while very IMPORTANT doesn't guarantee that a place can not be destroyed or altered- so we must also still move on making Ewa Field and adjacent areas a National American Battlefield- which creates another layer of Federal protection.
This should also FORCE the Navy to allow at least part of Ewa Field to be on the National Historic Register, which is also NOT a guarantee of safety- but just another step towards official Federal site recognition and protection.
One other level is National Historic Landmark status, which is a different status than National Monument. All of Pearl Harbor, Hickam, etc. are all part of the CURRENT Pearl Harbor Landmark area- but Ewa Field is NOT.
Hopefully this will happen when Ewa Field is made a National Monument. By LAYERING all of the levels of Federal Historic Recognition we have a fairly good chance to get the area's battlesites and buildings saved HOPEFULLY! But WHICH areas and buildings is STILL not known yet.
This remains as the IMPORTANT issue we must followup on. Our good friend Advertiser writer William Cole has written an article about this in relation to the Arizona. Most people do not realize that the NPS does NOT have official National Monument status for the Arizona! This is why the NPS in Hawaii has been so politically at the mercy of the Navy and their WILD PPV real estate projects!
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/COLUMNISTS32/806160317/1315/COLUMNISTS
What IS a National Monument? - Read This:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._National_Monument
John Bond
Save Ewa Field
http://www.december7.com/1941/index.html