Thursday
Jun102010
New Report Reveals Misplaced, Misidentified Remains In Arlington Cemetery
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 3:15PM
A new report reveals gross mismanagement of the U.S.’s most prestigious military cemetery, including mislabeled headstones and misplaced remains.
The Army-compiled report concludes that 211 gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery have “issues of accountability.”
“There could be more,” Army Inspector General R. Steven Whitcomb acknowledged during a press briefing at the Pentagon Thursday.
Two anomalies were discovered in a section reserved for soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The other 209 were from sections designated for those who fought in previous conflicts.
“There’s simply no excuses,” Army Secretary John McHugh, whose branch oversees the military cemetery, told reporters. “The Army owes better.”
Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent John C. Metzler announced his retirement Wednesday. He will continue to serve in his position until early July, but both he and the Deputy Superintendent will be stripped of their supervisory duties. The two could still face additional penalties.
In light of the report, the Army will establish an advisory commission to oversee National Cemeteries. Former Senators Bob Dole (R-Kans.) and Max Cleland (D-Ga.) have already been tapped for the effort.
As an additional measure, McHugh has created a new position of Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program, a role that will be assumed by Kathryn Condon, the U.S. Army Materiel Command Executive Deputy to the Commanding General.
The report can be read in its entirety at www.army.mil/arlington.
The Army-compiled report concludes that 211 gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery have “issues of accountability.”
“There could be more,” Army Inspector General R. Steven Whitcomb acknowledged during a press briefing at the Pentagon Thursday.
Two anomalies were discovered in a section reserved for soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The other 209 were from sections designated for those who fought in previous conflicts.
“There’s simply no excuses,” Army Secretary John McHugh, whose branch oversees the military cemetery, told reporters. “The Army owes better.”
Arlington National Cemetery Superintendent John C. Metzler announced his retirement Wednesday. He will continue to serve in his position until early July, but both he and the Deputy Superintendent will be stripped of their supervisory duties. The two could still face additional penalties.
In light of the report, the Army will establish an advisory commission to oversee National Cemeteries. Former Senators Bob Dole (R-Kans.) and Max Cleland (D-Ga.) have already been tapped for the effort.
As an additional measure, McHugh has created a new position of Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program, a role that will be assumed by Kathryn Condon, the U.S. Army Materiel Command Executive Deputy to the Commanding General.
The report can be read in its entirety at www.army.mil/arlington.
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