DISHONOR

Notes of Concern…
…Jack Blair


DISHONOR


Arlington National Cemetery has announced that it has misplaced some of our heroes.

It was announced on MSNBC that problems of misidentification or improper record keeping has occurred with reference to 211 graves. In other words, folks being paid huge salaries screwed up.

In one instance one body was buried on top of a previously buried body in the same grave.

Did the government uncover this on their own? No!

One family visited the grave site of their loved one only to find another family had placed a tombstone there.

And that is when the dominoes began to fall.

The top man at Arlington has lost his job.

The number two guy is on administrative leave. He may get to return.

It is hard to think of a situation that engenders more disgust than this one. Arlington was created and is maintained to be a dignified resting place for men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

It is a place of incredible beauty with magnificent lawns, dignified military funerals, and the resting place of many important Americans, none of them more important than the soldiers who paid the ultimate price.

How does this happen?

This should be pretty straight forward: A soldier dies. He is identified by his dog tags and other scientific procedures. He is flown home in a military transport. His casket is carried off the plane and placed in a hearse. His body is driven to Arlington where his family and friends meet it and the military conducts a formal service. He is interred in the grave that was opened for him.

Simple.

Clear cut.

Straight forward.

One would assume the details were handled as crisply as the soldiers fold the flag or with as much care as the riflemen provide the salute or the horn clearly sounds “Taps”.

Assumptions are often wrong.

Many of us have learned that the Federal Government can screw up a one-car funeral. That they could blow something as simple, and important as this, renders many Americans speechless.

We have seen lately an incredible number of examples of incompetence in our government. This is just one more.

However, this one strikes at the very heart of our patriotism.

There is no room for error here. In the handling of our military dead we need to see perfection. This is an inexcusable situation that adds further grief and worry to the families our soldiers have left behind.

Every individual associated with this mess needs to lose his job.

If he knew about the situation and did nothing, he needs to go.

If he did not know about the situation but should have, he needs to go.

If he was just taking orders, he needs to go.

Memo to the Federal Government: clean house! Then hire competent administrators.

First order of business must be to make this right.

Determine which soldiers should be in which graves. Reinter them appropriately. And while you are at it, offer to redo the ceremonies if the affected families so desire.

Do it right this time.

Shame on you.