But the "keys to the kingdom" were being guarded by this man--monument manager Scott Smith. He didn't believe my half-baked story about blogs or websites. He addressed me by my military title: General Public.

Access denied. No truck ride. No tour. No pictures inside the monument. No pictures NEAR the monument. Stay on the trail. Kind of made me feel more than a little stupid. But the girl working the counter inside the monument did give me the press discount...no charge to walk down the trail and take the picture. And I didn't even have to ask.