Pentagon says no to parking permit for Rolling To Remember
WASHINGTON (7News) — The U.S. Department of Defense has denied a parking permit to the American Veterans or AmVets to stage a rallying point at the Pentagon ending a 32-year-old tradition on Memorial Day weekend for Rolling To Remember.
Now AmVets will try and secure RFK Stadium as an alternative staging area.
AmVets Executive Director Joe Chenelly tells the 7 News I-Team he received a call from the Pentagon Friday afternoon saying "A gentleman at the Pentagon told me that after careful consideration, our permit application was denied. He said considerations involved the continued spread of COVID-19 in the region and the nature of our event being that we are proposing a large gathering for an extended period of time."
The Pentagon released a statement Friday night that read:
Unfortunately, the department has disapproved AMVETS permit request. The department took into careful consideration all aspects of AMVETS request, to include the current Health Protection Condition status on the Pentagon Reservation; substantial community transmission of COVID-19 in Arlington County, Virginia; number of Americans fully vaccinated across the nation; nature of this event with its decreased ability to maintain physical distance; and large crowds in one location for an extended period of time. This event draws national attention and participation; therefore the risk of exposure from participants from other communities extends well beyond the National Capital Region.
If COVID-19 conditions permit, the department would gladly consider supporting a future event request from AMVETS, potentially as soon as this Labor Day weekend.
The department looks forward to supporting future events with AMVETS, and as always, we appreciate AMVETS' support of our veterans, their families, and their communities, including promoting better awareness of veterans' issues, as well as AMVETS continued support for our missing-in-action service members.
For almost a year the organizers of Rolling To Remember have been waiting for the Pentagon to sign off on a parking permit for a Memorial Day weekend event that will bring in thousands of veterans and their motorcycles to the District.
Two weeks ago, the 7News I-Team reported the U.S. Defense Department was holding up what seems to be a simple decision to allow or deny thousands of military veterans to use its parking lot for a staging area for Rolling To Remember.
It’s the same parking lot the huge event has been using for the past 32 years.
AmVets is in charge of the event and happens to be a Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, representing the interests of 20 million veterans.
"We have not heard from the Pentagon from the day you called them the first time," said Joe Chenelly the National Executive Director of AmVets. "That's been a few weeks now.
ALSO READ: With no answer from Pentagon on parking, Rolling to Remember could be big DC traffic issue
The Pentagon continues to decline the I-Team’s request for an on-camera interview. It did admit it revoked a parking permit for AmVets after approving it in March.
The Pentagon's denial comes on the heels of the Smithsonian announcing last week that it will reopen eight of its facilities to the public in May, starting with the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly on Wednesday, May 5.
Additional museums and the National Zoo will open Friday, May 14, and Friday, May 21. Also on Friday, the United States Holocaust Museum announced that it plans to reopen on Monday, May 17 with reduced visitation, required face coverings, temperature checks, social distancing, and other safety measures.
I-Team Reporter Scott Taylor asked: "These military vets are coming to Washington, D.C. regardless if the Pentagon participates or not, correct?"
ALSO READ: Pentagon roadblock causing issues for Rolling to Remember on Memorial Day weekend
"You are absolutely right," said Chenelly. "We are seeing it on websites and social media all over the place. Much smaller groups. They're planning their own smaller rallying points and they're coming in."
Which means a potential traffic nightmare for the District. Multiple staging areas all over the DMV before thousands of veterans on motorcycles head over to the National Mall.
AmVets says it has a plan B and is working to move its main staging area to RFK Stadium instead of the Pentagon.
"It's very disappointing and for our members," said Chenelly. "There's been shock and deep disappointment expressed to us."
Sources tell 7News someone very high up at the Pentagon doesn't like the optics of this event during a pandemic.
AmVets tell the I-Team the Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Mayor’s Office is working with it to help make Rolling To Remember a success.
