September 24, 2009

Buyer Insists that Park Service Meet Higher Standard for Veterans’ Graves

For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence (202) 225-9165

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Steve Buyer reiterated his commitment to ensuring that veterans’ cemeteries maintained by the National Park Service meet the same high standard as those under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  

Buyer’s remarks were made during a Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing on ways to improve veterans’ cemeteries. Though Buyer serves as Ranking Member of the full House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, his long-standing advocacy for the National Shrine commitment for national cemeteries led him to participate in the hearing.

“I have repeatedly expressed my concern over the varying quality-of-care standards with regard to veterans’ gravesites, and there should not be four different standards of maintenance and upkeep,” said Buyer.

“While the American Battles Monuments Commission sets the gold standard, followed closely by Arlington and VA’s National Cemetery Administration, I am not pleased with the appearance of some of the veterans’ cemeteries maintained by the National Park Service. In 2007 I was stunned to see grave markers that were stained and out of alignment, and ground conditions were unkempt. It should not matter that the headstones commemorate soldiers who died in the Civil War or the Revolutionary War, time should not diminish the honor we bestow upon our fallen heroes.”

“I initially concluded that the best solution would be to transfer the jurisdiction of these cemeteries to VA, but was persuaded to allow the National Parks Service the opportunity to raise its standards. While some progress has been made, their standard is not yet what it should be.”

Buyer told the witness from the Park Service, “I await your report on how you plan to raise the Park Service standards for care of veterans’ gravesites and I will work with you to ensure you have the necessary resources. That’s the purpose of this hearing, and I want to make sure that you understand the importance of this issue and that we need to be on the proper course.”

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:  

http://www.republicans.veterans.house.gov/

http://www.youtube.com/user/VetAffairsRepublican

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