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Sign of the Times: Trust for the National Mall Makes First Investment
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Pamela's Punch
Congratulations go to the Trust for the National Mall. The Trust has just made its first official investment, which is Signage on the Mall. Startlingly, America’s Front Yard has been without clear directions and signage for years. In fact, some memorials didn’t have any signage at all, so if you were a visitor from Kansas or Canada or anywhere in farther away or in between, you’d have little to no idea how to find significant sights. The sad thing is, even if you stopped a jogger or dog walker to ask for directions, they probably wouldn’t either.
Don’t think for a second that no one cares that this stretch of important property is falling apart and in shambles. Remember, millions upon millions of guests come to trod across the gravel, grass, and streets in order to appreciate our front yard. Think of this as your home, the National Mall is what our domestic and foreign guests see as their first impression. Let’s just say its curb appeal has been waning for years and the Trust is working on it changing that. Now, thanks to them, folks (including Washingtonians) will be able to find their way around.
Monday evening, the Trust Board of Directors and special guests attended a reception in honor of its first investment at the Atrium of Capitol Visitor Center. Among those in attendance were VIP’s from Congress, Trust Chair & Akridge Chair John Akridge III and his wife Sally, AES CEO, Paul Hanrahan, who underwrote the event, and Jay Rasulo, Trust Board member & Chair of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and his wife Barbara, Ambassador Sarukhan of Mexico and his wife Veronica Valencia, Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey, Jacqueline and Marc Leland, and Sidney McNiff Ferguson.
We actually got a sneak preview of what the signs would look like. The project will take some time, so don’t expect to run down today and find your way around quite yet.
In the meantime, keep coming back for more news about the great work the Trust for the National Mall is doing and learn more here: http://www.nationalmall.org/