I understand you are aware of the POW/MIA interagency group consensus that interment of an unknown serviceman from the Vietnam era should not be pursued at this -time, but should be a logical outcome of the accounting process.

--- I understand that the Army is still pursuing this idea with exceptional energy to include informal lobbying with Veterans groups.

--- Most recently it was brought to my attention that the Army ordered all copies of the research data for identification of the four sets of remains in Hawaii to be destroyed and the original sent to the Army.

--- The National League of Families is aware of all of this and doesn't want the controversy exposed to the families, but the continued Army activity could drive them to go public. This could destroy the trust we have built- with them over the last few months.

--- The compromise formula agreed upon by the POW/MIA interagency group to dedicate an empty tomb to await the accounting process appears to hold the best hope to resolve this.

--- We simply can't have the public believe we created an unknown for interment.

--- Perhaps a national dedication of the Vietnam Memorial could serve as the symbol of healing the Vietnam wounds, as I understand 300,000 - 500,000 veterans are expected in town this November.