arlington national cemetary scandal

[lethal dose]

Anyone seeing this? Disgusting. Maybe irishluck can post some info. Copy/paste on my phone is a pain.

[perna]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h58h9SCTKUa7IqYTREYQGeqnOG5gD9G8J24G0

Army: Bodies misidentified at Arlington Cemetery

By ANNE FLAHERTY and PAULINE JELINEK (AP) – 50 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The Army says at least 200 remains in Arlington National Cemetery have been misidentified or misplaced, casting a shadow over what has been called America's "sacred ground."

Defense officials said Thursday that the Army has forced out the cemetery's two civilian leaders and appointed a new chief.

The Army says it plans a more thorough investigation of the questioned grave sites under the new management.

More than 300,000 people are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, including service members from the Civil War as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army Secretary John McHugh told a Pentagon press conference that the investigation found 211 graves where there were problems of misidentification or improper record keeping.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's uncertain who is buried in a number of graves at Arlington National Cemetery because of poor management and record keeping, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Army Secretary John McHugh is set to release on Thursday the results of an investigation of Arlington that officials say found problems with keeping track of some burials. The cemetery is resting place for about 300,000, including veterans, war casualties, American presidents and dignitaries.

Two managers at the cemetery could face punishment, two defense officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak before McHugh. John C. Metzler Jr., the cemetery superintendent for the past 19 years, recently announced his retirement.

Officials said the problems at Arlington have gone on for years, but they declined to say how long and how many burial sites are involved. They said in some cases a grave marker was not placed soon enough after burial or records were not kept updated, resulting in uncertainty later about the identities of the deceased at some grave sites.

McHugh ordered an investigation by the Army inspector general in November after revelations that cemetery workers inadvertently buried cremated remains at a grave site already in use.

The error was discovered in May 2008, and cemetery officials immediately moved the cremated remains to another site and remarked the original grave, the Pentagon said in November. But there also were questions about whether cemetery officials used proper procedures to correct the mistake, including notifying the next of kin.

"This is the place where valor rests, a place of reverence and respect for all Americans," McHugh said when he ordered the probe. "As the final resting place of our nation's heroes, any questions about the integrity or accountability of its operations should be examined in a manner befitting their service and sacrifice."

[lethal dose]

Thanks, perna. This is truly disturbing. Glad the director got canned.

[SW-Shooter]

I cannot think that this isn't the absolute worse case scenario.

If we cannot take care of our fallen, what does that say of our civilized society? These hero's deserve better, the families deserve better.

I wouldn't take anything less than dismissal for everyone involved.

[ThirdWatcher]

These hero's deserve better, the families deserve better.

Damn right!!!

[GermanSynergy]

I cannot think that this isn't the absolute worse case scenario.

If we cannot take care of our fallen, what does that say of our civilized society? These hero's deserve better, the families deserve better.

I wouldn't take anything less than dismissal for everyone involved.

I agree.