Washington Monument

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The Washington Monument, covered by scaffolding, lights up in the early morning sun, while cherry blossoms around the tidal basin bloom, in Washington, DC., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (Andrew S Geraci/The Washington Times)

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A woman kneels to photograph the Washington Monument framed in cherry blossoms at the tidal basin, in Washington, DC., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (Andrew S Geraci/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Monument, covered by scaffolding, lights up in the early morning sun, while cherry blossoms around the tidal basin bloom, in Washington, DC., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (Andrew S Geraci/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Monument, covered by scaffolding, lights up in the early morning sun, while cherry blossoms around the tidal basin bloom, in Washington, DC., Thursday, April 11, 2013. (Andrew S Geraci/The Washington Times)

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A television cameraman is silhouetted in between the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial on Dec. 6, 2012, as he films the rehearsal for the lighting of the National Christmas tree on the Ellipse in downtown D.C. later that evening. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Vistors to the Mall (from left) Andy Dimitriou of Chicago, Judy Franklin of Las Vegas and her sister Janice Hoffman of Chicago, and Michael Franklin of Las Vegas walk up to a temporary barrier to get a closer look at the closed National Monument. as the National Park Service announces that Perini Management Services, Inc. of Framingham, Mass. will be the contractor tasked with repairing the earthquake damage to the Washington Monument at a press conference, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, September 26, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Marine One, the presidential helicopter, could complicate repairs to the Washington Monument during flyovers as a result of White House security measures, the National Park Service says. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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National Park Service Superintendent Bob Vogel announces details Wednesday for the repairs on the earthquake-damaged Washington Monument. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A mannequin is positioned with its head over the tube of a firework to illustrate what not to do after lighting a firework. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission held a safety demonstration on Tuesday on the grounds of the Washington Monument to illustrate the perils. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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The NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is seen being carried piggyback on a modified Boeing 747, above the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 17, 2012, as it makes it's way to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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The NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is seen being carried piggyback on a modified Boeing 747, above the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 17, 2012, as it makes it's way to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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The space shuttle Discovery, carried on the back of a jumbo jet, flies over the Washington Monument in D.C., on April 17, 2012, en route to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Diller Scofidio Renfro and Hood Design is among four finalists for each of three areas to be redone on the Mall. From the top are the firm's visions for Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial, Union Square, and the Washington Monument grounds at Sylvan Theater. Donald Stastny (above right) will pick the winners. (Diller Scofidio Renfro and Hood Design via Associated Press)

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With the Washington Monument in the distance cherry blossoms make an early arrival along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 15, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Six months after the Aug. 23 earthquake and the Washington Monument is still closed, awaiting repair. What's up with that? "There's plenty of people out of work, but maybe they need specialized people to do [the repairs]." Josh Sher, 42, Miami, mortgage

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Six months after the Aug. 23 earthquake and the Washington Monument is still closed, awaiting repair. What's up with that? "It's good for D.C. because I still have a reason to come back. This is my third trip and I still haven't gone up the Washington Monument." Kevin Barnes, 39, Birmingham, Al., logger