US shutdown closes iconic D-Day cemeteries in France

France 24 International News 24/7 ^ | 10/2/2013 | FRANCE24

[Rodamala]

Iconic military cemeteries around the world where thousands of American soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars lay to rest were temporarily closed from Tuesday due to the US government shutdown.

A sign outside the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, west of Paris, informed visitors of its closure. “Due to the United States government shutdown, this site is closed to the public”

But Suresnes isn’t the only one. The move affects some 20 cemeteries in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy, Tunisia and Mexico which serve as the final resting place for troops who died in landmark campaigns such as the Normandy D-Day landings, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) said on its website.

[Rodamala]

Normal operations will resume "when a new funding measure is passed by the US Congress and signed by the president of the United States," the ABMC said.

Christopher Palmer, a spokesman for the US embassy in Paris, confirmed the move but said the mission and consulates in the country will remain open.

A restaurant owner near the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, one of the landing beaches of the Normandy invasion, expressed fears that her business would be hit.

The site, which houses the remains of more than 9,300 US troops, attracts more than one million visitors a year.

"Today there were people," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I had 80 to 90 people. Everybody was only talking about this, they didn't know. Even the guides brought tourists.

"But if tomorrow, the cemetery is still closed it could have serious repercussions on our business."

At the American cemetery at Bony, containing the graves of 1,844 soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme during World War I and other operations, employees did not turn up for work, a worker said.

"But they will be paid because we are under French law," the worker said, joking that these were just "extra holidays".

The US government was forced to shut down on Tuesday, after the houses of Congress failed to agree a new budget. National parks, monuments, and some administrative offices were immediately closed, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers temporarily without a job.

It was the first shutdown in 17 years.

[Sacajaweau]

Friggin’ unbelievable

[I want the USA back]

Our current government doesn’t care about that.
But I’ll bet the billions are still flowing to their true friends, the jihadis.

[Admin Moderator]

Please do not continue articles in post #1. It forces us to check for copyright violations.

[JediJones]

Why does a cemetery need to be locked and closed by anyone? It’s a cemetery, not Club Med.

[JediJones]

This is a good exercise. Whatever people complain about missing in the first 30 days of a government shutdown, we can consider adding back into the funding. Everything that no one misses can be shut down permanently. Which should be 95% of it.

[Hardraade]

The muslims and communists in France have tried that for many years.

[matginzac]

Totally unbelievable!
Off topic: shouldn’t the French language sign finish with “publique”?

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

French veterans and families should take over guarding the cemeteries until they can be opened, or should open them themselves.

[Buckeye McFrog]

From what I’ve read these cemeteries are maintained beautifully and respectfully.....by the French!

So we get off closing down property in THEIR country
WHY exactly??

[Gator113]

One thing is certain, Obama is making history.

“.....fundamentally transforming the United States of America”

[combat_boots]

Who makes these signs?

[SECURE AMERICA]

ITS A FRIGGIN CEMETERY. THEY ARE NEVER CLOSED. I LIVE NEAR A NATIONAL CEMETERY WHERE MY FATHER IS BURIED. I VISIT REGULARLY. I NEVER SEE ANY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. ITs OPEN, NO GATE, NO DOORS ETC. HOW THE HELL DO YOU CLOSE A CEMETERY????
Forgive the caps. It was that or a lot of cussing and swearing because this stupidity really PISSES ME OFF..........

[NonValueAdded]

Obama did not close Arlington National Cemetery, are these cemeteries in France any less sacred? Storm the gates!

[cld51860]

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. I am currently in a (friendly) email debate with a co-worker on this topic. He insists it because of the maintenance, etc. I replied I do not recall that the monuments were literally BARRICADED during ANY of the previous “shut downs.” Even under the Clintonistas. Am I wrong on this?

[tcrlaf]

“French veterans and families should take over guarding the cemeteries until they can be opened, or should open them themselves.”

STORM LE’ BARRYCADES!!
(thank Sarah Palin for that line...)

[combat_boots]

Sarah needs to thank someone on Twitter.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Once a rube, always a rube.

[Graewoulf]

Signed by Reid and Obama.

[VanDeKoik]

This is nothing short of locking American servicemen away from people wanting to pay their respects!