The following is a 9/11 tribute that I wrote in 2007. It captured what I felt in my heart. I share this each year as my way of reflecting on the tragic events of 9/11 that forever changed my families lives. I hope it touches you in a special way.
9/11 Remembered
I remember 9/11 so vividly. The drive into work was picture perfect. I remember thinking what an awesome early fall day, sunny, warm, and the sky was brillian blue. As I sat at my desk with the radio on, I heard the announcer break in that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centers.
I remember on 9/11, thinking maybe there was fog and a small Cessna had unfortunately lost course and crashed. Shortly thereafter, as a news reporter was interviewing an eye witness, there were screams as the second plane crashed into the second tower. Then, everything seemed to stop. Could it be terrorist? My employer sent us home and we were glued to the TV as the drama unfolded. Little did I know then that not only did the world change that day, but how dramatically and intimately it would change my family and life.
I remember on 9/11, that my son, Heath, would say he was going to fight for his country. I did not know then that he would lose his life fighting a war so his family could have a safer future.
I remember 9/11 as the day, he left to travel to this foreign field of battle, it would be the last day he would be alive on American soil. A day of last phone texts, last phone calls, and the day I began to endlessly worry about a son going to war.
I remember 9/11 as a bittersweet time of fond last memories and of the beginning of long-term pain and heartache.
I remember on 9/11, all the lives lost, the destruction, the end of a way of life America had known.
On 9/11, I pray that God will be with all the families that lost their special loved ones that day and with all the families of the brave men and women who have lost their lives fighting for our national security and freedom since then. May God give wisdom to our leaders that will lead us ultimately to a safer, free world.
God bless America, God bless you and may God bless our men and women serving our country.
Scott Warner
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Honor is from the Hero
Melissa and I were talking tonight. I said I do not know if I can go back to Arlington because it has lost the honor it once had to me. She was quick to remind me the honor is not defined by Arlington, the honor is derived from what our loved ones did, how they lived their lives and how they died. They were selfless heroes who thought of others first and gave their lives thinking of others. It is shameful what has happened at Arlington, but the honor does not rest on the administration or the employees. Whenever we remember the sacrifice of our son, the honor is still there. With that in mind, maybe I can find some peace in this miserable situation we now find ourselves in with Arlington administration.
Friday, September 3, 2010
A Decision Has Been Made for the Disinterment of Pvt. Heath Warner at Arlington National Cemetery
A Decision Has Been Made
The last several weeks have been a challenging time for our family. In addition to the incomplete and inaccurate information on the Decedent Information form, Arlington records could not account for Heath's remains from the point he left Cleveland Hopkins Airport until he was held in storage at Arlington on December 11, 2006.
I was asked to rely on a verbal confirmation that his remains were held at a local funeral. When I asked for copies of the information from the funeral home, none could be provided. Based on this information, Melissa and asked the cemetery to move forward with Heath’s disinterment. With a positive identification and copies of the detailed funeral which would give account of the days preceding his burial on December 12, 2006, we will be able to find peace in this situation.
We have agonized with making this decision, but we have set the date of the disinterment with Arlington for Wednesday, 9/15/2010 at 8 AM.
What Have I Learned From This Experience
When I wrote my op-ed, Arlington National Cemetery - A Spectrum of Desecration, I had no clue that I would find myself in the situation of questioning were our son was buried. However, with the expanded investigation potentially impacting 4500 to 6600 graves, we decided for peace of mind, to ask Arlington to confirm his grave.
Moving forward I became vigilant in my pursuit for truth. Searching for truth requires a perseverance that I did not realize I had within me. I learned to see through rhetoric and pursue factual information. Holding the cemetery accountable for their poor records and exposing our story in a public forum has not been easy. We have asked Eric Mansfield from WKYC and Stan Meyers from the Canton Repository to cover Heath’s disinterment, as we believe it is important for American’s to see the reality of the Arlington’s negligence.
I am not looking forward to disinterring Heath's grave, but in the end this short term pain, will provide long term peace. To the families who have loved ones buried at Arlington, ask for hard copies of your loved ones records. Unless you ask, they will not send them to you and you will only receive a scripted response from the call center. Specifically, ask for the Decedent's Information sheet. I am confident that our records are not the only ones that are incomplete and inaccurate. We have been asked to settle for the errors as clerical mistakes and computer glitches. That is not acceptable.
We have decided to keep Heath buried at Arlington as this is what he would want. I am praying that it is Heath's body buried at his grave. By moving forward with his disinterment, I believe it is a big step forward for Arlington in restoring the honor and dignity that has been lost. If our perseverance helps others, then the pain we have suffered will be worth it.
The last several weeks have been a challenging time for our family. In addition to the incomplete and inaccurate information on the Decedent Information form, Arlington records could not account for Heath's remains from the point he left Cleveland Hopkins Airport until he was held in storage at Arlington on December 11, 2006.
I was asked to rely on a verbal confirmation that his remains were held at a local funeral. When I asked for copies of the information from the funeral home, none could be provided. Based on this information, Melissa and asked the cemetery to move forward with Heath’s disinterment. With a positive identification and copies of the detailed funeral which would give account of the days preceding his burial on December 12, 2006, we will be able to find peace in this situation.
We have agonized with making this decision, but we have set the date of the disinterment with Arlington for Wednesday, 9/15/2010 at 8 AM.
What Have I Learned From This Experience
When I wrote my op-ed, Arlington National Cemetery - A Spectrum of Desecration, I had no clue that I would find myself in the situation of questioning were our son was buried. However, with the expanded investigation potentially impacting 4500 to 6600 graves, we decided for peace of mind, to ask Arlington to confirm his grave.
Moving forward I became vigilant in my pursuit for truth. Searching for truth requires a perseverance that I did not realize I had within me. I learned to see through rhetoric and pursue factual information. Holding the cemetery accountable for their poor records and exposing our story in a public forum has not been easy. We have asked Eric Mansfield from WKYC and Stan Meyers from the Canton Repository to cover Heath’s disinterment, as we believe it is important for American’s to see the reality of the Arlington’s negligence.
I am not looking forward to disinterring Heath's grave, but in the end this short term pain, will provide long term peace. To the families who have loved ones buried at Arlington, ask for hard copies of your loved ones records. Unless you ask, they will not send them to you and you will only receive a scripted response from the call center. Specifically, ask for the Decedent's Information sheet. I am confident that our records are not the only ones that are incomplete and inaccurate. We have been asked to settle for the errors as clerical mistakes and computer glitches. That is not acceptable.
We have decided to keep Heath buried at Arlington as this is what he would want. I am praying that it is Heath's body buried at his grave. By moving forward with his disinterment, I believe it is a big step forward for Arlington in restoring the honor and dignity that has been lost. If our perseverance helps others, then the pain we have suffered will be worth it.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Arlington National Cemetery - A Spectrum of Desecration - Update
This past weekend I received a packet from the executive director of Arlington National Cemetery. The packet contained the following information:
1. A letter from the executive director
2. Call Center Family Concern Form
3. Next of Kin Phone Call Return Script
4. Phone Call Return Script Voice Mail
5. Checklist from their investigation
6. Record of Internment 1
7. Record of Internment 2
8. Decedent Information Intake Form
9. 3 Photos of his grave stone
As I reviewed the records, essentially, they matched his name to a identification number. This number then was matched to the parcel, and the parcel was matched to the master map of the burial plots. At this point, all seemed in order, until I reviewed the Decedent Information Intake Form.
The form was dated 11/30/2006 and was partially completed. In addition, the form had major misinformation. Most alarming was the funeral home section which had a location of a funeral home in Oaklawn, IL and the receiving funeral home as Arlington National Cemetery. The fact is the funeral was Heitger Funeral Services located in Jackson Township, Ohio and the receiving funeral was a funeral home in DC that we are trying to locate.
Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with the Executive Director,Kathryn Condon. I shared the information, I had discovered and she was concerned at the level if inaccuracy in the report and assured me that I would know without a doubt were my son is buried. She is very passionate about restoring the dignity to Arlington National Cemetery. She wants to talk to the families and hear our concerns and make changes. I asked her if she had read my op-ed which she said yes. I told her I would like to be part of the solution and recommended that a panel be formed by family members that she would meet with periodically to get feedback on the cemetery operations.
At this point, further investigation will need to take place to verify if Heath is actually buried were his marker is located. It's a challenging time and could consume you. I will continue to update the public as I learn more. My goal is that maybe by sharing our story and being part of the solution, another family will not have to go through this ordeal.
1. A letter from the executive director
2. Call Center Family Concern Form
3. Next of Kin Phone Call Return Script
4. Phone Call Return Script Voice Mail
5. Checklist from their investigation
6. Record of Internment 1
7. Record of Internment 2
8. Decedent Information Intake Form
9. 3 Photos of his grave stone
As I reviewed the records, essentially, they matched his name to a identification number. This number then was matched to the parcel, and the parcel was matched to the master map of the burial plots. At this point, all seemed in order, until I reviewed the Decedent Information Intake Form.
The form was dated 11/30/2006 and was partially completed. In addition, the form had major misinformation. Most alarming was the funeral home section which had a location of a funeral home in Oaklawn, IL and the receiving funeral home as Arlington National Cemetery. The fact is the funeral was Heitger Funeral Services located in Jackson Township, Ohio and the receiving funeral was a funeral home in DC that we are trying to locate.
Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with the Executive Director,Kathryn Condon. I shared the information, I had discovered and she was concerned at the level if inaccuracy in the report and assured me that I would know without a doubt were my son is buried. She is very passionate about restoring the dignity to Arlington National Cemetery. She wants to talk to the families and hear our concerns and make changes. I asked her if she had read my op-ed which she said yes. I told her I would like to be part of the solution and recommended that a panel be formed by family members that she would meet with periodically to get feedback on the cemetery operations.
At this point, further investigation will need to take place to verify if Heath is actually buried were his marker is located. It's a challenging time and could consume you. I will continue to update the public as I learn more. My goal is that maybe by sharing our story and being part of the solution, another family will not have to go through this ordeal.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Today Marks the end of the Iraq War - Why does it feel so anticlimatic?
Today Marks the end of the Iraq War - Why does it feel so anticlimatic? I said to Melissa this morning, "Well today the Iraq War is over" as we drank morning coffee. Melissa said, "Yea, and our son is dead..."
It's a sobering thouhgt, but I cannot let it end there. I just can't. Heath lived his dream and became a Marine. He was such a handsome, kind hearted, intelligent and interesting person. He loved God, his family and his country with his whole heart. I am so proud of him.
I am praying for a safe return for all our troops, but I am so sad. Congratulations to all our troops, I am proud of all of you! It's the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. God Bless America,
It's a sobering thouhgt, but I cannot let it end there. I just can't. Heath lived his dream and became a Marine. He was such a handsome, kind hearted, intelligent and interesting person. He loved God, his family and his country with his whole heart. I am so proud of him.
I am praying for a safe return for all our troops, but I am so sad. Congratulations to all our troops, I am proud of all of you! It's the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. God Bless America,
Arlington National Cemetery - A Spectrum of Desecration
Arlington National Cemetery is considered one of America’s most sacred and hallowed grounds. We chose to have our son, USMC Pvt. Heath Warner buried there when he was killed by an IED on 11/22/2006. Having a loved one buried there is an honor and a sacrifice. When we entrusted our son to the care of this most honored cemetery, I would never have imagined, we would come to know the spectrum of desecration that exists and haunts the families of those who have loved ones buried there.
Desecration by Administration
We became aware of an investigation taking place in the summer of 2009 by friends within our Arlington community. It appeared to be an isolated situation and we were never notified of by the administration that it was more than that – an unmarked graved was discovered. On June 10, 2010, I received a phone call while I was at work from a reporter asking me to make a statement about the news conference taking place regarding the “final report”. I was stunned to find there were 211 graves identified and incidents of desecration. However, this past July I was contacted again to make a statement about the expanded investigation which estimated up to 6,600 graves may be mismarked. Since then we have learned the cemetery is not computerized and an archaic method of record keeping using three by five index cards to track the pertinent grave information.
In fact over the last three and a half years, we have never been contacted by Arlington administration. When HBO imbedded their production crew for a three month shoot for their special on the families of the fallen, we had traveled six hours to visit our son’s grave only to be surprised by a videographer. Within minutes of our walking up to Heath’s grave, we were caught off guard by being filmed upon our arrival to his grave. If we had been notified by the cemetery that this was taking place we could have at least been prepared or delayed our visit.
The reality is Arlington administration has no mechanism in place to communicate with the families of those buried at the cemetery. Since the investigation, families are referred to a call center that was set up this past June and staffed by civilians hired by the Pentagon. They communicate by reading scripts. The entire process is a desecration to our son’s sacrifice and our family.
Desecration by Workers
One of the most disturbing findings was that of the cremation urns found in a land fill area within the cemetery. Having lived through the experience of burying a loved one at Arlington, I still cannot comprehend how the employees who bury our loved ones could be so disconnected from the honor of their services that they could desecrate the cremated remains of our veterans by throwing them in a ditch. I can only imagine how carelessly they lower the caskets into the ground and throw the flowers on top only to move on to the next dig.
Over the years we have accepted the fact that the treasures left at the graves as tokens of love are routinely thrown away. However, it was not until we were visiting Heath’s grave on the second anniversary of his death that we witnessed first hand the desecration and disregard by the grounds caretakers at Section 60. We had arrived in the morning for a private memorial ceremony. We returned to the cemetery after lunch, to find the grounds in disarray. Wreaths, flower arrangements, pictures, tokens of loves were strewn throughout Section 60. We originally thought vandals had gone threw the graves. The reality was the grounds had been desecrated by powerful blowers and were left as we found them. Melissa and I tried to repair what we could and replace as best we could; however, we ended up calling the florist we use for Heath’s grave arrangements and she came out to help as she knew the graves better. She filed a complaint with Superintendent Mesler on that following Monday.
Desecration of Honor
Arlington National Cemetery has been known as America’s sacred grounds and reminds our country of the sacrificed lives for freedom. However, from the top administrator to the grounds keepers, from the journalist and even the tourist who visits these hallowed grounds as if attending a festival, there has been a comprehensive desecration of honor. It’s hard to watch and process. I have watched a disconnect by American’s from the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I question if this is reflective in the treatment of our war dead. Recently, a friend forwarded to me a political cartoon by Mike Luckovich which is a parody of Abbot and Costello’s comedy of “Who’s on First”. The cartoon shows a newsstand at Arlington with a newspaper headline stating 6,600 graves mixed up before the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. By the stand are Laurel and Hardy asking who is buried there? Who? Pathetically sad, but I do admit it gave me a very tiny chuckle, but the reality is so true. Families are left to wonder - is this my loved one’s grave?
My family has come to the conclusion that our son is heaven in a better place were we never have to worry about his care and that he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. We may wonder, but maybe through sharing our story we can help restore the dignity that our loved one’s deserve and the tarnished reputation will be repaired and the desecration replaced with honor, valor and dignity that once defined Arlington National Cemetery.
Link to Mike Luckovich political cartoon
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/page/2/
Desecration by Administration
We became aware of an investigation taking place in the summer of 2009 by friends within our Arlington community. It appeared to be an isolated situation and we were never notified of by the administration that it was more than that – an unmarked graved was discovered. On June 10, 2010, I received a phone call while I was at work from a reporter asking me to make a statement about the news conference taking place regarding the “final report”. I was stunned to find there were 211 graves identified and incidents of desecration. However, this past July I was contacted again to make a statement about the expanded investigation which estimated up to 6,600 graves may be mismarked. Since then we have learned the cemetery is not computerized and an archaic method of record keeping using three by five index cards to track the pertinent grave information.
In fact over the last three and a half years, we have never been contacted by Arlington administration. When HBO imbedded their production crew for a three month shoot for their special on the families of the fallen, we had traveled six hours to visit our son’s grave only to be surprised by a videographer. Within minutes of our walking up to Heath’s grave, we were caught off guard by being filmed upon our arrival to his grave. If we had been notified by the cemetery that this was taking place we could have at least been prepared or delayed our visit.
The reality is Arlington administration has no mechanism in place to communicate with the families of those buried at the cemetery. Since the investigation, families are referred to a call center that was set up this past June and staffed by civilians hired by the Pentagon. They communicate by reading scripts. The entire process is a desecration to our son’s sacrifice and our family.
Desecration by Workers
One of the most disturbing findings was that of the cremation urns found in a land fill area within the cemetery. Having lived through the experience of burying a loved one at Arlington, I still cannot comprehend how the employees who bury our loved ones could be so disconnected from the honor of their services that they could desecrate the cremated remains of our veterans by throwing them in a ditch. I can only imagine how carelessly they lower the caskets into the ground and throw the flowers on top only to move on to the next dig.
Over the years we have accepted the fact that the treasures left at the graves as tokens of love are routinely thrown away. However, it was not until we were visiting Heath’s grave on the second anniversary of his death that we witnessed first hand the desecration and disregard by the grounds caretakers at Section 60. We had arrived in the morning for a private memorial ceremony. We returned to the cemetery after lunch, to find the grounds in disarray. Wreaths, flower arrangements, pictures, tokens of loves were strewn throughout Section 60. We originally thought vandals had gone threw the graves. The reality was the grounds had been desecrated by powerful blowers and were left as we found them. Melissa and I tried to repair what we could and replace as best we could; however, we ended up calling the florist we use for Heath’s grave arrangements and she came out to help as she knew the graves better. She filed a complaint with Superintendent Mesler on that following Monday.
Desecration of Honor
Arlington National Cemetery has been known as America’s sacred grounds and reminds our country of the sacrificed lives for freedom. However, from the top administrator to the grounds keepers, from the journalist and even the tourist who visits these hallowed grounds as if attending a festival, there has been a comprehensive desecration of honor. It’s hard to watch and process. I have watched a disconnect by American’s from the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I question if this is reflective in the treatment of our war dead. Recently, a friend forwarded to me a political cartoon by Mike Luckovich which is a parody of Abbot and Costello’s comedy of “Who’s on First”. The cartoon shows a newsstand at Arlington with a newspaper headline stating 6,600 graves mixed up before the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. By the stand are Laurel and Hardy asking who is buried there? Who? Pathetically sad, but I do admit it gave me a very tiny chuckle, but the reality is so true. Families are left to wonder - is this my loved one’s grave?
My family has come to the conclusion that our son is heaven in a better place were we never have to worry about his care and that he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. We may wonder, but maybe through sharing our story we can help restore the dignity that our loved one’s deserve and the tarnished reputation will be repaired and the desecration replaced with honor, valor and dignity that once defined Arlington National Cemetery.
Link to Mike Luckovich political cartoon
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/page/2/
Monday, June 21, 2010
Gold Star Father Supports Congressman Boccieri's Requests of a Review and Audit of the Policies at Ohio’s National Cemeteries
As I indicated in the article in the Canton Repository recently, my wife, Melissa, and I new since last summer that there was an investigation regarding some of the graves at Arlinton National Cemetery. We were not told formally by the cemetery administration, but we heard through our informal network of friends associated with the cemetery. At that time we were told Section 60 was not one of the sections involved in the investigation.
To my surprise, the first I heard that the investigation was complete was through a reporter who had called an asked me to make a statement about the situation. At that point, I said I would get back to him and I contacted my friends who directed me to the live press conference. I learned the investigation had been concluded and there were 211 graves that had been improperly marked or were unmarked and Section 60 were my son was laid to rest was involved.
I was completely caught off guard by this for several reasons. First of all, we had never been notified directly that an investigation was taking place and that it had been completed through the cemetery adminstration. Secondly, the number of graves involved were significantly higher, 211, instead of a few graves which is what was making it's rounds through our informal network. Lastly, that the investigation included several graves from Section 60 which included the section where our son was buried. This is completely unbelieveable, unfortunate and not acceptable that a loved one should have to wonder if the grave their loved one is buried at is actually their loved one's grave.
ENSURING THE DIGNITY OF OHIO'S FALLEN SOLDIERS
I was contacted by Congressman Boccieri if I would support his requests for a review and audit of the policies at Ohio’s National Cemeteries. The press release below presents the official comments from the Congressman's office in which I did make a state of support for this review. I ask for your aupport of this effort. If this can happen at Arlington National Cemetery it can happen at any of our National Miliatary Cemeteries.
OFFICE OF U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI
For Immediate Release
Friday, June 18, 2010
Contact: Jessica Kershaw
(202) 641-0098
ENSURING THE DIGNITY OF OHIO’S FALLEN SOLDIERS
WASHINGTON, OH – Although a Canton family’s son who served in Iraq and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery is not one of the hundreds of graves under review, U.S. Congressman John Boccieri (D-Alliance), a military member himself, today requested a review of Ohio’s national cemeteries. The audit and review asks that soldiers buried in Ohio’s cemeteries are treated with the utmost respect, in light of an Army Inspector Generals’ report showing hundreds of mismarked or unmarked graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
In his letter to Acting Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs Steve Muro, Boccieri requests a review and audit of the policies at Ohio’s national cemeteries which include the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, located within the 16th congressional district, and the Dayton National Cemetery.
Boccieri says, “I am writing you today in memory of the fallen soldiers from Ohio who earned the right to be laid to rest in our state’s national cemeteries and to request your assistance in assuring that these sacred places honor their memories…I know we both share a deep commitment to honoring the memories of the brave men and women who have served our great nation, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure their final resting places are those of enduring dignity.”
Scott Warner, father of fallen Iraq War veteran Heath Warner who is from Canton and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, supports Boccieri’s effort to ensure the dignity of soldiers at Ohio’s national cemeteries. He said, “No family should be wondering if the grave of their loved one is mismarked or unmarked. I believe it would be prudent that our national military cemeteries review their policies, procedures, and they have the technology to keep an accurate accounting of our buried military.”
Boccieri’s Letter to the Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is Below:
***
Friday, June 18, 2010
Under Secretary Steve Muro
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Muro,
I am writing you today in memory of the fallen soldiers from Ohio who earned the right to be laid to rest in our state’s national cemeteries and to request your assistance in assuring that these sacred places honor their memories.
As you know, it is a great comfort and honor to our nation’s soldiers and their families when a veteran is laid to rest at one of our national cemeteries. Unfortunately, according to a recent report from the Army Inspector General, hundreds of graves at Arlington National Cemetery have been mismarked, unmarked or moved without notifying the families of the soldiers.
Like many across our nation, I was deeply disturbed and angered with the mismanagement that allowed this tragic situation to occur. While the mismanagement that led to these unacceptable circumstances has been dealt with swiftly at Arlington Cemetery, more must be done to restore confidence in our national cemetery system.
While I believe the men and women working at Ohio’s cemeteries are as committed as I am to honoring the memory of our fallen heroes, now is the time for a thorough review of the policies at Ohio’s national cemeteries. That is why I am requesting a review and audit of the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and Dayton National Cemetery —to verify that they have not been subject to similar discrepancies and confusion.
I appreciate your attentiveness to this matter. I know we both share a deep commitment to honoring the memories of the brave men and women who have served our great nation, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure their final resting places are those of enduring dignity.
Sincerely,
John Boccieri
Member of Congress
To my surprise, the first I heard that the investigation was complete was through a reporter who had called an asked me to make a statement about the situation. At that point, I said I would get back to him and I contacted my friends who directed me to the live press conference. I learned the investigation had been concluded and there were 211 graves that had been improperly marked or were unmarked and Section 60 were my son was laid to rest was involved.
I was completely caught off guard by this for several reasons. First of all, we had never been notified directly that an investigation was taking place and that it had been completed through the cemetery adminstration. Secondly, the number of graves involved were significantly higher, 211, instead of a few graves which is what was making it's rounds through our informal network. Lastly, that the investigation included several graves from Section 60 which included the section where our son was buried. This is completely unbelieveable, unfortunate and not acceptable that a loved one should have to wonder if the grave their loved one is buried at is actually their loved one's grave.
ENSURING THE DIGNITY OF OHIO'S FALLEN SOLDIERS
I was contacted by Congressman Boccieri if I would support his requests for a review and audit of the policies at Ohio’s National Cemeteries. The press release below presents the official comments from the Congressman's office in which I did make a state of support for this review. I ask for your aupport of this effort. If this can happen at Arlington National Cemetery it can happen at any of our National Miliatary Cemeteries.
OFFICE OF U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOCCIERI
For Immediate Release
Friday, June 18, 2010
Contact: Jessica Kershaw
(202) 641-0098
ENSURING THE DIGNITY OF OHIO’S FALLEN SOLDIERS
WASHINGTON, OH – Although a Canton family’s son who served in Iraq and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery is not one of the hundreds of graves under review, U.S. Congressman John Boccieri (D-Alliance), a military member himself, today requested a review of Ohio’s national cemeteries. The audit and review asks that soldiers buried in Ohio’s cemeteries are treated with the utmost respect, in light of an Army Inspector Generals’ report showing hundreds of mismarked or unmarked graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
In his letter to Acting Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs Steve Muro, Boccieri requests a review and audit of the policies at Ohio’s national cemeteries which include the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, located within the 16th congressional district, and the Dayton National Cemetery.
Boccieri says, “I am writing you today in memory of the fallen soldiers from Ohio who earned the right to be laid to rest in our state’s national cemeteries and to request your assistance in assuring that these sacred places honor their memories…I know we both share a deep commitment to honoring the memories of the brave men and women who have served our great nation, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure their final resting places are those of enduring dignity.”
Scott Warner, father of fallen Iraq War veteran Heath Warner who is from Canton and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, supports Boccieri’s effort to ensure the dignity of soldiers at Ohio’s national cemeteries. He said, “No family should be wondering if the grave of their loved one is mismarked or unmarked. I believe it would be prudent that our national military cemeteries review their policies, procedures, and they have the technology to keep an accurate accounting of our buried military.”
Boccieri’s Letter to the Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is Below:
***
Friday, June 18, 2010
Under Secretary Steve Muro
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Muro,
I am writing you today in memory of the fallen soldiers from Ohio who earned the right to be laid to rest in our state’s national cemeteries and to request your assistance in assuring that these sacred places honor their memories.
As you know, it is a great comfort and honor to our nation’s soldiers and their families when a veteran is laid to rest at one of our national cemeteries. Unfortunately, according to a recent report from the Army Inspector General, hundreds of graves at Arlington National Cemetery have been mismarked, unmarked or moved without notifying the families of the soldiers.
Like many across our nation, I was deeply disturbed and angered with the mismanagement that allowed this tragic situation to occur. While the mismanagement that led to these unacceptable circumstances has been dealt with swiftly at Arlington Cemetery, more must be done to restore confidence in our national cemetery system.
While I believe the men and women working at Ohio’s cemeteries are as committed as I am to honoring the memory of our fallen heroes, now is the time for a thorough review of the policies at Ohio’s national cemeteries. That is why I am requesting a review and audit of the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and Dayton National Cemetery —to verify that they have not been subject to similar discrepancies and confusion.
I appreciate your attentiveness to this matter. I know we both share a deep commitment to honoring the memories of the brave men and women who have served our great nation, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure their final resting places are those of enduring dignity.
Sincerely,
John Boccieri
Member of Congress
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