Changes to Arlington Burial Eligibility

2727, 17 Sep 2020

Public Comment Period Begins for Proposed Arlington Burial Eligibility Changes

In a recent article, MOAA reviewed the proposed changes to Arlington's burial eligibility criteria which could very well affect a number of RAFINO members. Please review the article and comment as appropriate.

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Member Comments on This Bulletin

10/13/2020 11:10:04 PM LTC Richard G. Shaffer

I am not concerned or interested in a burial in Arlington. Never expected it when Commissioned in 1963.

My wife and I have paid for our funeral so our two children and families are free and clear and we have reservations for burial in the Georgia National Cemetary in North Georgia located in an area of rolling hills and low mountains.

It is an honor to be buried at Arlington but also an honor for burial in North GA's beautiful cemetary. Fort Benning provides the Chaplain and Honor Guard.

My family does not have to travel such a great distance from GA to Arlington to see my burial site when it can be just about 100 miles North in GA.

Richard Shaffer

9/25/2020 4:01:35 PM LTC RICHARD R ROBSON, Sr

Roger Scearce provided the following:

ALL: re my note of 17 Sept (2d under below) asking for each of you to comment on US Army proposed changes to Arlington interment eligibility rules during the Federal Register open comment period, expiring in Nov.

I sent in the note below today - asking you do something similar, if you agree. Also, please share with friends and family - the more comments the better.

Many thx, Roger

I gave my country 28 years of faithful service. A portion of that service was in combat in DS/DS. One of the expected benefits of being a military retiree was burial at Arlington; thus, it is now very hard for me to believe that there are no other options for in-ground burial than those being proposed currently by the US Army. We should not break yet another promise to those who gave their entire adult life in service (and family sacrifice!!) to our Army and our country. At the VERY MINIMUM, all those eligible under current rules today should be GRANDFATHERED.

A suggestion: Indeed, the Army should have a pretty good handle on at least the military retiree population, and how to locate them. Why not survey each currently eligible retiree (drawing retired pay) and simply ASK them if their intent is to be buried at Arlington? See what that number reveals, and then decide implications as to space/capability to accommodate.

There MUST be a better answer than what the Army is proposing.

9/19/2020 9:35:45 AM CSM Larry J. Elsom

Every member currently eligible for internment at Arlington should comment in the public comment section and advocate for grandfathering.

Larry Elsom