Park Service Worried About Plan To Turn Arch Pink
Illumination Approved By Congress To Honor Senator's Mother

POSTED: 4:17 pm EDT October 20, 2004

ST. LOUIS -- An attempt to boost breast cancer awareness is raising some concerns from the National Park Service.



BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Visit Our Special Section



The service says it's not comfortable with a plan to illuminate the renowned Gateway Arch in St. Louis with pink lights on Monday.

A spokesman insisted the agency has no problem with the cause, and that the concern is that it will set a bad precedent.

The park service says the breast cancer awareness project may now force it to open up the 630-foot-high arch to other organizations and causes.

The service's spokesman said it sees the arch as a sacred site, and doesn't want any changes made to it, even temporarily.

The illumination was approved by Congress in honor of one senator's mother who died from breast cancer.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.