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Arlington National Cemetery considers options as it nears capacity
WTOP News [Washington DC] ^ | February 3, 2018 5:19 am | Kristi King | @KingWTOP

Posted on 02/03/2018 10:15:45 AM PST by COBOL2Java

At the current rate, the cemetery will run out of room for burials in the early 2040s. It's raising some tough questions about eligibility

WASHINGTON — Tough choices lie ahead for the caretakers of Arlington National Cemetery — the hallowed grounds are beginning to reach capacity, and options are being considered to preserve available space.

At the current rate, the cemetery will run out of room for burials in the early 2040s.

“There are some things that can be done that would significantly restrict who is eligible and therefore extend the life of the cemetery … over 100 years,” said Arlington National Cemetery’s Superintendent Kate Kelley.

“The question on the table is: Does the nation want that for Arlington, and are we willing to make the tough choices that it’s going to take if we’re going to do that?”

Efforts to expand the cemetery’s footprint are underway. There are current discussions with the state and county to purchase 37 adjacent acres, but Kelley said that land would only add an additional 10 years of capacity.

The two largest groups responsible for filling capacity are people who served active duty but didn’t retire, as well as 2 million military retirees.

“Those two groups are the ones that are going to allow the remaining space in Arlington to be available well into the future,” Kelley said.

(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: arlington; arlingtoncemetery; cemetery; civilwar; military; robertelee; virginia
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To: Theoria

A local Catholic Sisters Convent does the same thing, not a problem.


21 posted on 02/03/2018 10:51:31 AM PST by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
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To: COBOL2Java

Any more Confederate General’s property nearby we can seize?


22 posted on 02/03/2018 10:53:06 AM PST by PGR88
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To: COBOL2Java

Cremation and columbarium would create a lot more capacity.


23 posted on 02/03/2018 10:55:26 AM PST by PAR35
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To: generally; Sequoyah101; COBOL2Java; archy; kunsanhistorian; xzins; 2ndDivisionVet; SandRat; zot; ...

Generally,

Having been to several burials at Arlington National Cemetery with in the last few years, I can assure you that there is NO restriction as rank as you stated “it’s mostly restricted to officers.” The primary restriction for in ground burials, as opposed to putting created remains in the columbarium, is to have served in combat zones during wars.

Here are the eligibility rules for ANC from its own website: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Scheduling-a-Funeral/Establishing-Eligibility

Thus I, after 20 years of active duty, without having received any of the medals listed, can only have my cremated remains “buried” in the columbarium and cannot be buried “in the ground” at ANC. I can still be buried ‘in the ground’ at any other existing National Cemetery.

V/r, Grey Friar


24 posted on 02/03/2018 11:07:52 AM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: COBOL2Java

There must be some near by land that was once owned by slave holders. Why not just steal that property as well?


25 posted on 02/03/2018 11:08:15 AM PST by Michael.SF. (Releasing the memo will destroy our faith in massive unaccountable government agencies)
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To: COBOL2Java

Ban all Democrats...then dig up all Democrats and move them to the dump!


26 posted on 02/03/2018 11:08:18 AM PST by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket)
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To: davidb56

You are so bad. :)


27 posted on 02/03/2018 11:12:36 AM PST by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys)
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To: rrrod
Ban all Democrats...then dig up all Democrats and move them to the dump!

Yeah, seeing as how the demoncraps have been supporting the killing of unborn babies whose bodies tend to end up in the trash, it would only be appropriate for them to receive the same treatment.

28 posted on 02/03/2018 11:15:47 AM PST by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys)
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To: COBOL2Java

It was originally Robert E. Lee’s land. How about taking modern day seditionists’ properties to extend the purpose: Clinton & Kennedy properties?


29 posted on 02/03/2018 11:16:10 AM PST by Textide (Lord, grant that I may always be right, for thou knowest I am hard to turn. ~ Scotch-Irish prayer)
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To: GreyFriar

My BIL is buried in Arlington. He got the caisson and a flyover.


30 posted on 02/03/2018 11:26:31 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: COBOL2Java

The large number of unknown civil war dead could be reinterred in a mausoleum after being sampled for DNA for identification purposes.


31 posted on 02/03/2018 11:30:28 AM PST by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: Sequoyah101

I think the are burying the wives of the veterans too. Stop that and wow, lots of room. Or dig up based on first buried first to be removed when it gets full. Na, just kidding.


32 posted on 02/03/2018 11:37:18 AM PST by 9422WMR
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To: COBOL2Java

We’ve been hearing this for 10 years.


33 posted on 02/03/2018 11:42:34 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: COBOL2Java

https://www.npr.org/2014/05/17/312467543/150-years-old-arlington-cemetery-is-running-out-of-room


34 posted on 02/03/2018 11:45:55 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: generally
Currently, IIRC, it’s mostly restricted to officers, with a few exceptions

I don't think that's correct. A lot of combat Vietnam vets wound up there because their parents and loved ones wanted to make a political statement (pro or con) about the war.

The cremation option is a good one, though. Three generations of Americans are comfortable with the practice, including my family.

35 posted on 02/03/2018 11:52:40 AM PST by Ace's Dad (BTW, "Ace" is now Captain Ace. But only when I'm bragging about my airline pilot son!)
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To: 9422WMR; Sequoyah101

The burying of spouses in Arlington National Cemetery has been done of one on top of the pre-deceased veteran instead of side by side for the last couple of decades and perhaps longer. Thus the current individual graves are “bunk beds” so to speak.


36 posted on 02/03/2018 12:01:36 PM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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Comment #37 Removed by Moderator

To: 9422WMR

My brother, mom and dad are all buried one on top of the other in Punchbowl Cemetery in Honolulu. They have been doing that for years out there.


38 posted on 02/03/2018 1:33:05 PM PST by tom paine 2
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To: Sequoyah101

It happens in New Orleans all the time. If it’s the same family it looks tasteful....not sure about different families....


39 posted on 02/03/2018 1:38:35 PM PST by scrabblehack
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To: GreyFriar

Thanks for the explanation.

God bless, and thank you for your service.


40 posted on 02/03/2018 1:41:21 PM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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