Has the Art Deco Society of Washington considered any action to help restore the original name of National Airport, (removing Reagan)? Nearly everyone I have asked feels as I do that the renaming of this local landmark after Reagan was a travesty. Since the ADSW is having its Ball in the original terminal this year it would be a good opportunity to publicize the desire of the community to have the name restored. Could a petition be available at the ball for members and guests to sign? As a compromise the new terminal could be called the Reagan Terminal, but the airport as a whole particularly the original deco terminal should be known as Washington National Airport.

-- Keith B. Fred (flamingophoto@usa.net), October 18, 2000

Answers

I fully agree. As a native Washingtonian I was insulted by the name change. Everybody I talk to doesn't like it either. In fact, just yesterday a co-worker told me the air traffic controllers deliberately refer to it as National airport when talking to the pilots. I also heard there is some discussion to change the name to Duke Ellington Airport, but I can never see Congress accepting that. Congress will force upon Washington as many buildings, monuments, etc it wants to bearing the name Reagan.

-- Gabrielle Cassell Lange (Glange@na.org), October 19, 2000.

Agree. Whatever one's politics, Washington's airport shouldn't become a partisan pawn. I never refer to it as "Reagan National." We'll probably have to wait for a Democratic Congress to rename it.

-- Gary Parker (writer10@bellatlantic.net), November 01, 2000.

How could we Washingtonians allow such a travesty to have occurred with respect to the National Airport being named Reagan. It's obvious that the majority of the people living in Washington are opposed to the Airport being named after such a controversial divisive President.

Therefore, we demand that the airport be immediately changed back to Washington National Airport or name the Airport National.

Sincerely,

David Johnson, PHD

-- David Johnson, PHD (micsa2@hotmail.com), February 17, 2003.

Couldn't disagree more. I think the outpouring of love shown after the president's death is evidence that he is more than just a partisan figure, but a great warrior for freedom. I know that probably irks you, but don't worry, there are plenty of things named after people that drive conservatives mad. I'll agree to a change of the airport name if you'll agree to cancel "labor day" or rename it as "Entrepreneur's Day", and rename the Martin Luther King holiday "Civil Rights Day". Plus Reagan was an actor during the tail end of Art Deco, so it seems like a fitting choice.

Eric

-- Eric David Anderson (ericart@lycos.com), October 16, 2004.