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As a military retiree, I received an email yesterday asking that I take a survey on the future eligibility for burial at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). It refers to a 2017 survey (which I was not a participant) on the future of the Cemetery.

It states that “Arlington National Cemetery will close for new burials in 23 years if current eligibility policies remain in place. Further expansions should not be expected to solve the dilemma at ANC. The next possible expansion, into the area south of the Cemetery (the Southern Expansion; around 40 acrea) will add 10 - 15 years of life to the cemetery- closing the cemetery to new burials by the mid-2050’s.”

All this is if...the BIG IF...nothing is done to change the eligibility for burial at ANC. As someone who has spent some long hours just walking those hallowed grounds, I feel it is a special cemetery that should be reserved for special people...not the common retiree like me.

So, while I won’t write out all my answers, here’s a summary of how I answered the questions...
- I support tightening requirements for ground burial at ANC (There is a columbarium with different rules)
- when asked to rate the priority of various groups for burial at ANC, I rated veterans who served on active duty, elected officials who served on active duty, National Guard and Reservists who performed active duty based on the GI Bill Improvement Act at the lowest priority (1 of 10)
- Active duty retiree I ranked one step higher (2 out of 10)
- Active duty who die in the line of duty from a training or operational accident (8 of 10)
- Purple Heart recipients (combat wounded) (9 of 10, and I wish I could lower that)
- People who receive high awards, specifically the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force or Navy Cross - 10 of 10
- Former Prisoniers of War - 10 of 10
- Killed in Action - 10 of 10

Just because you serve...even if in a combat zone...I don’t think you have earned SPECIAL honors like burial at ANC...

In a special section, I gave WWII veterans a 5 of 10 priority...there are not many left, and I don’t think changing the rules for them will save much space and is not the right thing to do at this time...

Your thought about Arlington National Cemetery...

One of my agent's mother just passed away on Monday and she is due to be buried there along side her husband. I have no idea of his credentials, but I think it would be hard to not bury a spouse there if they have a spot.

Last funeral I went to there was for a retired 2 star who did a lot for West Point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ob ... 88a5a706fe

89Hen wrote:One of my agent's mother just passed away on Monday and she is due to be buried there along side her husband. I have no idea of his credentials, but I think it would be hard to not bury a spouse there if they have a spot.

Last funeral I went to there was for a retired 2 star who did a lot for West Point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ob ... 88a5a706fe

Two things:

1. I agree with the Col. Arlington is hallowed ground. Neither he nor I deserve to be buried there. Save it for people with legit valor designations.

2. To 89, interesting tidbit on the Delaware veteran cemeteries: each eligible vet rates one plot. If the spouse wants to be buried with them, they stack the boxes. First spouse gets laid in, second spouse gets set on top of them.

93henfan wrote:

89Hen wrote:One of my agent's mother just passed away on Monday and she is due to be buried there along side her husband. I have no idea of his credentials, but I think it would be hard to not bury a spouse there if they have a spot.

Last funeral I went to there was for a retired 2 star who did a lot for West Point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ob ... 88a5a706fe

Two things:

1. I agree with the Col. Arlington is hallowed ground. Neither he nor I deserve to be buried there. Save it for people with legit valor designations.

2. To 89, interesting tidbit on the Delaware veteran cemeteries: each eligible vet rates one plot. If the spouse wants to be buried with them, they stack the boxes. First spouse gets laid in, second spouse gets set on top of them.

I call top.

89Hen wrote: I call top.

Then you better be eating your vegetables and running 3 miles a day.

93henfan wrote:

89Hen wrote: I call top.

Then you better be eating your vegetables and running 3 miles a day.

Fuck that. I'll take bottom.

93henfan wrote:

89Hen wrote:One of my agent's mother just passed away on Monday and she is due to be buried there along side her husband. I have no idea of his credentials, but I think it would be hard to not bury a spouse there if they have a spot.

Last funeral I went to there was for a retired 2 star who did a lot for West Point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ob ... 88a5a706fe

Two things:

1. I agree with the Col. Arlington is hallowed ground. Neither he nor I deserve to be buried there. Save it for people with legit valor designations.

2. To 89, interesting tidbit on the Delaware veteran cemeteries: each eligible vet rates one plot. If the spouse wants to be buried with them, they stack the boxes. First spouse gets laid in, second spouse gets set on top of them.

On #2, its the same at ANC...

I'm not sure if it's even an option, but what about cremation and a columbarium? I've always felt that cemeteries were a waste of land which is partially why I chose cremation for my last wish. It seems that cremation is becoming a more popular option these days and I have to believe that a lot of vets eligible for interment in ANC might choose that option and allow ANC to be viable for many more years to come.

edit: I see they opened one a few years back.
https://www.arlnow.com/2013/05/20/new-c ... -cemetery/

ASUG8 wrote:I'm not sure if it's even an option, but what about cremation and a columbarium? I've always felt that cemeteries were a waste of land which is partially why I chose cremation for my last wish.

+1

That and I really don't want to be a zombie.

The great thing about cremation is that you can be spread around at your favorite places: Beach, Stadium, Strip Bar, etc.

CAA Flagship wrote:The great thing about cremation is that you can be spread around at your favorite places: Beach, Stadium, Strip Bar, etc.

Pizza Oven, Bud Light Brewery, NJ Turnpike, East St. Louis, Ferguson

Still one of the funniest scenes...

Fuck cremation. That creates particulate matter in the atmosphere. Plus they usually just throw you on the same slab that they burn dogs and cats on too, so your loved ones get a little of you and a little of the lab mix that nobody wanted at the SPCA.

I want to be not buried, but simply dumped at sea, in a field of chummed seawater with great white sharks present. I will be a good meal and help the planet. Winning.

The Parsi way - put the body up on a tower, let the vultures pick it clean.

93henfan wrote:Fuck cremation. That creates particulate matter in the atmosphere. Plus they usually just throw you on the same slab that they burn dogs and cats on too, so your loved ones get a little of you and a little of the lab mix that nobody wanted at the SPCA.

I want to be not buried, but simply dumped at sea, in a field of chummed seawater with great white sharks present. I will be a good meal and help the planet. Winning.

No. When I'm out deep sea fishing, I don't want to cut open my catch and see YOU.

Viking funeral - put me on a boat, light it on fire and push it out to sea.

They could gain one space by kicking Ted Kennedy out of there.


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93henfan wrote:Fuck cremation. That creates particulate matter in the atmosphere. Plus they usually just throw you on the same slab that they burn dogs and cats on too, so your loved ones get a little of you and a little of the lab mix that nobody wanted at the SPCA.

I want to be not buried, but simply dumped at sea, in a field of chummed seawater with great white sharks present. I will be a good meal and help the planet. Winning.

News flash: We did a number of at-sea burials of old Navy salts and I can tell you this: without exception, every single one was cremated first. So, sorry bro.

My orders to my wife haven’t changed for 20+ years. Cremated, poured off the end of the Santa Monica pier, and come back and pour a Bud Light into the water every year in memorium.

I have given explicit instructions to a trusted friend to add my ashes to the water supply of an undisclosed city

It WILL happen

Ibanez might have cause for concern maybe


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AZGrizFan wrote:

93henfan wrote:Fuck cremation. That creates particulate matter in the atmosphere. Plus they usually just throw you on the same slab that they burn dogs and cats on too, so your loved ones get a little of you and a little of the lab mix that nobody wanted at the SPCA.

I want to be not buried, but simply dumped at sea, in a field of chummed seawater with great white sharks present. I will be a good meal and help the planet. Winning.

News flash: We did a number of at-sea burials of old Navy salts and I can tell you this: without exception, every single one was cremated first. So, sorry bro.

I don't need the Navy to carry out my plans. In fact, I wouldn't give them the pleasure of handling my remains.

93henfan wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
News flash: We did a number of at-sea burials of old Navy salts and I can tell you this: without exception, every single one was cremated first. So, sorry bro.

I don't need the Navy to carry out my plans. In fact, I wouldn't give them the pleasure of handling my remains.

Marines aren’t worthy anyways.

CID1990 wrote:I have given explicit instructions to a trusted friend to add my ashes to the water supply of an undisclosed city

It WILL happen

Ibanez might have cause for concern maybe


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Why?
I haven''t lived in Charleston proper since 2008.

Besides, my last wishes are to be cremated and my ashes sprinkled into the harbor from High Battery.


Actually, my wishes are to sprinkle my ashes on the 1 yr anniversary of my death and i've allocated a small sum of money to host a party.

CID1990 wrote:I have given explicit instructions to a trusted friend to add my ashes to the water supply of an undisclosed city

It WILL happen

Ibanez might have cause for concern maybe


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saw your clan marching this weekend. They better infuse some young blood into that clan or else they might not be around in a few years. The Citadel and Charleston Pipe and Drums were out competing, but it was the lower levels. Biff was here 2 years ago - it's always good to see him.

AZGrizFan wrote:pour a Bud Light into the water every year in memorium.

Best use of Bud Light I can think of.