Les Greco: Bodies can’t be sorted by Arlington National Cemetery

Running a cemetery is a a lot more difficult business than many individuals assume, particularly a cemetery of the size and prestige of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Unfortunately, Arlington National Superintendent John Metzler and his deputy Thurman Higginbotham are being replaced after a series of scandalous mix-ups involving mislabeled graves and at least one service member’s body being buried on top of one more, the Pentagon told MSNBC. In addition, Higginbotham is being investigated for allegedly hacking computer files of a former Arlington National Cemetery employee.

Resource for this article: Arlington National Cemetery cannot keep bodies sorted

No body database at the Arlington National Cemetery?

Metzler and Higginbotham were criticized for not having any kind of electronic database of the gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and instead relying upon paper records. This weighed greatly on Secretary of the Army John McHugh’s mind as he chose the move to dismiss the duo. A new position could be created to oversee Arlington National operations.

For 42 years, John Metzler has been a government employee. For 19 years he served as Arlington National Cemetery superintendent. John Sr. preceded him as Arlington National Cemetery superintendent.

’Does any person run a perfect organization?’ questioned Metzler

John Metzler said his mistakes weren't malicious. While military rank and salary are not easy to come by, some reasonable supposition would indicate that John Metzler, with a lot more than 18 years of service in the military, would make at least $3,454 per month as outlined by the standard military pay table. A lot more than likely, he makes at least $2,000 to $3,000 a lot more per month, although this is speculation.

Was John C Metzler Jr. actually earning his pay?

Whatever the case many actually be, from John McHugh’s point of view, Metzler had failed to earn his salary, in light of the shocking events. Not only that, but John Metzler saying that “nobody’s perfect” and telling the media that some of the difficulties occurred before he began working at Arlington National Cemetery are errors that are simply inexcusable in such a high-profile position funded by taxpayers. That doesn’t even take into account his responsibility in tending to the honored military dead.

Is the Arlington National Cemetery running out of room for people?

Could that be the reason for the sorting and burial anomalies? In its 200 acres, Arlington National has more than 300,000 buried. That does not take into account the special vaults that carry more than 40,000 total niches for cremated remains and will soon be expanded to 100,000. As Arlington National averages 28 funerals per day, 6,900 per year, space will probably be an issue soon. Burr Oak Cemetery, a privately owned cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, had this exact same problem, and some employees resorted to less-than-respectful means of dealing with the situation Burr Oak Cemetery, a privately owned cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, had this problem, and some employees resorted to horrible means of dealing with the situation. Here’s hoping that Arlington National Cemetery will fix any administrative issues a! nd continue to serve The US within the honorable fashion it has given that its official designation on June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Les Greco

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bodies can’t be sorted by Arlington National Cemetery

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