MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                        CONTACT: John Donnelly
May 28, 2010                                                                                          (317) 848-0201

Burton Statement On Memorial Day Weekend

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Burton issued the following statement for this year's Memorial Day weekend in honor of American military personnel serving around the world, our veterans, and our nation's fallen heroes:

"During a time of war, I believe people more fully understand the sacrifices of our brave Americans who volunteer to defend this nation.  The last decade has been marked by the men and women who took the fight to the terrorists and have kept them on the run since September 11, 2001. 

"As we begin this year's Memorial Day weekend, I reflect on some news in the last year concerning the sacrifices of our soldiers in the war on terrorism.  Many of us recall the three Navy SEALs who faced prosecution after capturing a most-wanted al-Qaeda leader.  Just weeks ago, all three SEALs prevailed in the courtroom, as they had on the field of battle, and were exonerated of all charges.  I was proud to see hundreds of thousands of Americans loudly support those SEALs, and we all continue to be grateful for their service.

"Another issue strikes as close to the heart as it does to home.  A fellow Hoosier, Chancellor Keesling, died in Iraq by suicide last summer.  It was his second tour of duty in Iraq, and the pressures on him were enormous.  His service and sacrifice, and that of his family, should be honored like any other solider, but a longstanding White House policy prohibited the President from sending Chancellor's parents a letter of condolence.  Yesterday, the House of Representatives stood up for the Keesling's and unanimously passed a message to President Obama: overturn that policy and equally honor all military families and the sacrifices of their sons and daughters.

"As we attend various events and ceremonies this weekend, I hope everyone remembers that, for some, everyday is Memorial Day.  We have families in our Hoosier communities who struggle everyday as they miss a loved one who gave their life in the line of duty.  So I ask my friends and neighbors in Indiana, after you return home from your weekend activities, continue to embrace and support the families of those who gave all.

"Since last Memorial Day, the following Hoosiers perished in the service of our nation:

Keesling, Chancellor, 25, Army 6/19/2009

Griffin, Dale, 29, Army 10/27/2009
 
DeCrow, Justin, 32, Army 1/5/2009

Bowman, Brian, Army 1/4/2010

McQueary, Jeremy, 27, Marines 2/10/2010

Birchfield, Joshua, 24, Marines 2/19/2010

Stultz, Gregory, 22, Marines 2/19/2010

Barrett, Brandon, 27, Marines 5/5/2010

"My thoughts and prayers remain with these heroes and their families, and I speak for the Hoosiers I represent when I say, thank you for serving our nation and protecting our heritage of freedom."

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MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                        CONTACT: John Donnelly
May 27, 2010                                                                                          (317) 848-0201

Burton Amendment On Condolence Letters Passes

House Adopts Measure Asking Obama To Recognize Military Suicide Victims And Their Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House passed Rep. Dan Burton's (R-IN-05) amendment to the Defense Authorization bill today, which calls on President Obama to treat all military personnel and families equally and overturn a longstanding White House policy that prohibits presidential letters of condolence to families of Armed Service members who die by suicide.  What follows is an excerpt from Rep. Burton's statement from the House floor prior to the vote:


"I'd like to tell the Members why this is such an important amendment.  Last summer, a twenty-five year old Hoosier Army Specialist on his second tour of duty in Iraq named Chancellor Keesling died by suicide in Baghdad.


"His mother and father went to Dover Air Force Base and they received their son, and he got a full, military honor burial, and a twenty-one gun salute.  The family received all kinds of letters of condolence from the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and a three-star General, but they did not receive any kind of a comment or letter of condolence from the President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief.


"And, I think it's very important this this policy be changed.  It's been the policy for a long time that if a person dies by suicide in the military, the Commander-in-Chief does not send a letter of condolence to the family.  But, the family is the one that's really suffering.  And, right now, with members of the military serving one, two, maybe even three tours of duty in Afghanistan or Irag, or around the world, there is tremendous pressure on them--tremendous pressure.  And, a lot of them succumb to the pressures and commit suicide. 


"Now, this is not an isolated case.  In 2008, there were 260 suicides--140 in the Army, 41 in the Navy, 38 in the Air Force, and 41 in the Marines.  In 2009, it was 160 in the Army, 47 in the Navy, 34 in the Air Force, and 42 in the Marines.  And so far this year, 71 young men and women have committed suicide in the military.


"And, I think it is only proper that the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States, who sends these young people into combat for extraordinarily long periods of time, ought to understand that the grieving families like the Keeslings deserve a letter from the Commander-in-Chief saying, 'we understand the pressure that your son or daughter was under, we understand that they served their country well, and we want to express condolence to you for your loss, and for their service they gave their country.'


"After all, they voluntarily joined the service, they voluntarily served in combat and in combat areas--and because they couldn't handle the pressure over months and months, and sometimes years, they succumbed to that pressure--and their families should still receive condolence from the Commander-in-Chief."



Background:

CNN coverage from 12/16/09

Burton-Kennedy Letter from 12/23/09 to President Obama calling for the condolence policy to be changed

Text of Burton Amendment:
Would express the Sense of Congress that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, should treat all military personnel and military families equally and overturn the policy that prohibits sending a presidential letter of condolence to the family of a member of the Armed Forces who has died by suicide.

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On November 16, 2009, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) addressed the US House about Lt. Charles Maggart of Marion, Indiana, whose plane was shot down on December 5, 1942 in the Pacific Theatre of WWII. Lt. Maggart will finally receive a formal funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on November 17, 2009. He will be interred with his 6 fellow crew members who perished in battle 67 years ago.