[RHClarke]

Herb,

I agree with some of your assessments of the CWM - there is a lot of stuff crammed into the vehicle area. This is due in part to the "quick thinkers" of the National Capital Commission (which is run by a rare collection of artistic fruitcakes). They decreed that no outside displays were to be permitted. The artsy-fartsy design is also a contributor to the problem. There is lots of vertical space, but tanks don't hang well from celings... Thus some of the more robust items were shoehorned into the building.

Being a federal institution, rules are rules - no matter how inane, they have to be followed or they will find someone who will follow them to replace you. Despite the rules, guys like Jim Whitham are doing a great job with the tools they have been given.

In the main, I like the museum, perhaps not so much for its layout, but for portraying (no matter how misguided) our military heritage.

Hopefully you got a chance to visit the target museum on the Aviation Parkway...

It was good to hear that George Blackburn was out and about. He is one of our national treasures, who I am sure will have some interesting opinions about the museum.