Army Submits Gravesite Study of Arlington National Cemetery

No. 1038-11
December 22, 2011

Secretary of the Army John McHugh released today to Congress the results of a year-long effort to ensure accountability of gravesites and records at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). McHugh submitted the report in accordance with Public Law 111-339, which directed the Army to provide an accounting of gravesites at ANC, and put in place a plan of action for any discrepancies which may be found.

“The management team I put in place has now conducted the most comprehensive review and meticulous accounting of gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery’s 147 year history,” McHugh said. “They have examined every available record, physically counted every gravesite on the cemetery’s grounds, and created a digital record of every headstone and niche cover.”

McHugh said this report is the latest in a series that shows the Army’s commitment to and success in improving management and oversight at ANC. The Army’s inspector general recently reported that “significant progress has been made in all aspects of the cemetery’s performance, accountability and modernization.” The Government Accountability Office -- also directed to submit reports in accordance with Public Law 111-339 -- similarly noted that the Army “has taken positive steps to address management deficiencies at Arlington and has implemented improvements across a range of areas.”

The cemetery’s Gravesite Accountability Task Force reconciled existing records and conducted a physical identification of gravesites -- counting every marker in the cemetery and photographing each headstone and niche cover. They have completed nearly 200,000 cases, and validated those gravesites without any burial discrepancies in evidence.

Comprised of Army soldiers and civilians, the task force was charged with physically identifying every gravesite and niche cover, cross-referencing each with all available records, identifying discrepancies, applying appropriate corrective actions and developing standardized procedures that can be instituted into the daily operations of the cemetery.

“With the critical support of Congress and the American people, the task force’s significant work has resulted in a far more detailed and thorough understanding of Arlington’s records and living history than at any time since its inception during the Civil War in 1864,” said Kathryn A. Condon, executive director of the Army National Cemeteries Program. “This comprehensive effort will create a set of proven procedures that will ensure the accountability of all current and future gravesites. While remarkable progress has been made this far, additional work is required.”

The gravesite accountability effort resulted in the first-ever review, analysis and coordination of all Arlington records that included more than 14 decades of varying records. The end result will be a single database that will serve as the authoritative record at Arlington National Cemetery.

The task force compared the photos for 259,978 headstones and niche covers in the cemetery against more than 510,000 records. Based upon its review, the task force validated 195,748 cases, and Arlington is currently completing the validation of 64,230 cases requiring additional review.

The Army is strengthening both accountability of gravesites and oversight of cemetery operations, identifying discrepancies and administrative errors, and taking immediate corrective action. The Army has defined new accountability processes, standards and technology, established a rigorous training program and gathered valuable best practices and lessons learned that are now being integrated into the Arlington’s daily operations.

As remaining cases are validated and resolved, Arlington’s leadership focus will shift to its plan for the future, having integrated the best practices from the task force into daily operations. With this plan in place, the next era at Arlington will be defined as one of modernization, transparency and accountability, with the goal of connecting the American people to Arlington’s rich living history.

Among the national cemeteries in the United States, Arlington National Cemetery is unique. It is the only national cemetery that routinely holds graveside services and provides full military honors for eligible veterans. It is a national and active military shrine, hosting 4.1 million visitors annually, as well as ceremonial functions involving heads of foreign countries and other high level dignitaries. As the second largest cemetery in the country, Arlington National Cemetery oversees approximately 27-30 funeral services per day, five days a week. On Saturdays, the cemetery holds services for which military honors are not required or requested.

News media with further questions may contact Jennifer Lynch at 877-907-8585 or jennifer.lynch1@us.army.mil . A copy of the ANC report can be dowloaded here.

Wreaths Across America

Dear Friends,

Please join me in this cause which is close to my heart.

Each December Wreaths Across America carries out its mission Remember, Honor, and Teach by placing wreaths on veterans' graves during the holiday season. Over 600 locations across the country participate.

This year the challenge is to place a wreath to honor every hero buried at Arlington National Cemetery, that's over 225,000 wreaths needed.

If each of us who enjoy the Freedom secured by the service and sacrifices of these veterans and their families make a stand for a veteran we can meet this goal.

You can help. Your $10 tribute will place a wreath.

Say thank-you for your freedom. Show the families that you care.

Please click on the image above OR visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ to sponsor a wreath.

We can certainly do this as American Citizens............

Thank You!

"To be killed in a war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst. To be forgotten is the worst." Pierre Claeyssens

Introducing 'The Christmas They Never Had'

I've just been told that this Christmas Season the Worcester Wreath Company has been given permission to place wreathes on ALL 330,000 + graves at Arlington!

Here's Karen Worcester to tell you more:

I watched my friend Sir Stanley closely as he spoke of his time as a POW. He is a hero of mine. His manner is strong, kind and knowing. He has seen much in his 86 years and I tend to hang on his every word. I love to listen to his stories. He often addresses me personally and his speaking my name draws me into the story even deeper.

My name is Karen Worcester of Wreaths Across America and this particular day we had been discussing the fact that we have been given permission in 2011 to cover all of the 330000+ graves at Arlington. He was visibly pleased. Then he in a matter of fact way, he shared a story that changed my life.

He was a young man far from home engaged in the now famous “Battle of the Bulge.” He describes how cold it was there in the Ardennes Forest. When his division was forced to surrender to the Germans, Corporal Wojtusik and a couple others managed to escape only to be captured shortly there-after.

Then on Christmas Eve 1944, he huddled with hundreds of other POWs in 3 box cars. The train was carrying the prisoners, but was not marked as required by the Geneva Convention. So in the middle of the war, they came under friendly fire by the allies.

Stanley shared, “You could hear the cars and men being hit, and the screaming. Here we were, we couldn’t run or even move. It was Christmas Eve. What else could we do? So we all joined hands and sang Silent Night - to comfort one another in that terrible time. Everyone in the other two cars were killed that night, yet ours was spared.”

Then Sir Stanley shared these words - “You know Karen, that became known as the Christmas they never Had.”

I started to cry, and frankly am crying now as I write this. I promised my friend and hero that I, that we, would do all we could do to make sure they never missed another Christmas. We decided right then and there, to make this our theme for 2011 - the 20th anniversary of wreaths being placed at Arlington during the holidays.
A couple days later, in an emotional pitch to another friend and veteran, I shared Sir Stanley’s story. This friend - a Vietnam veteran, always so stoic let down his guard, and with tears running down his cheeks told of the Christmas he never had while in the jungle of Vietnam.

I hope you will join us in 2011 as we make it our mission to give "The Christmas they Never Had." Not only for the 20th anniverary of wreaths going to Arlington National Cemetery, but for the thousands of WWII veterans who we lose each day - to let them know one final time that we will never forget.

To place all the wreaths this year it will take a lot of hands and a lot of hearts. Planning has to start earlier than ever to make it a reality. If you have connections with a corporation, group, or organization that would like to help us get started - please contact Wreaths Across America HQ.