February 5,999

Mr. James P. Davis
115 Duval Lane
Edgewater, MD 21037
[This is a reply to Jim's letter.]

Dear Mr. Davis:

Thank you for your letter regarding military burial honors and Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, Anne Arundel County. Thank you also for forwarding a copy of your letter to Governor Parris Glendening. Governor Glendening has read your letter with interest, and has asked that I also respond on his behalf.

For background information, Maryland manages the most active and comprehensive state veterans cemetery program in the nation, including Guam and Puerto Rico. In addition to the Crownsville facility, we operate veterans cemeteries in Allegany, Baltimore, Dorchester, and Prince Georges counties. To date, we have interred approximately 40,000 veterans and their eligible dependents. Our most active facility is Garrison Forrest Veterans Cemetery in Baltimore County, which is singularly the second most active in the nation and conducts triple the interments of the Crownsville facility.

Your points regarding military honors are well taken. We concur that is right and fitting that our defenders of freedom receive a lasting and meaningful final tribute. To that end and since the opening of our first veterans cemetery in 1976, we have worked with the military and with funeral directors. Also, we are closely monitoring the progress of the congressional initiative to provide burial honor guards. The federal regulation, which will be later promulgated, is scheduled to be effective January 1,2000.

State veterans cemeteries are established utilizing grant-in-aid funding from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this regard our operational policies, in general, mirror those of the 114 national cemeteries. This includes policy relating to military honors. Although ostensibly pragmatic, state veterans cemetery programs and the National Cemetery System have found it unwieldy to procure honors on behalf of the mourners or their representative, the funeral director.

Page Two
Mr. James P. Davis

The many facets of arranging a funeral service, such as establishing the time and place of the service with clergy, scheduling the use of the funeral home or place of worship, publishing of death notices, and consideration for mourners traveling great distances need to be coordinated by a single entity, which is the funeral director. This includes the procurement of burial honors, which sometimes includes body bearers at the funeral home or church.

We have headquarters personnel that facilitate verification of military service for interment in the case of missing, lost, or destroyed military records, and verify military service as required to authorize both DoD and National Guard honors details. This selfimposed initiative is highly utilized through our toll free telephone number. Also, both national and state veterans cemeteries provide telephone numbers and locations of organizations that may be able to provide military honors near their cemetery.

In regard to burial flags, they are of a length and width especially designed for display on a casket, and are usually utilized both prior to and at the cemetery. In general, these flags are only issued by the VA, and are available at post offices, VA Regional Offices, and VA Medical Centers. Veterans cemeteries, including those operated by the VA, are not currently authorized to issue flags. Justification to amend the federal regulation would need to include an explanation as to why, since flags are utilized prior to the date of interment, the flag should be issued by a cemetery rather than by a local post office. If the funeral director fails to obtain the flag prior to the day of interment, both national and state veterans cemeteries have a burial flag available for ceremonial purposes.

In the case of the "The Capital" and Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, the publication seemingly accumulates any negative letters received and publishes them in proximity to Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This has been its practice since the cemetery was established in 1981. We find it interesting that letters of rebuttal to "The Capital" from persons with loved ones interred in the cemetery, and letters from the United Veterans of Anne Arundel County refuting the negative comments, are never published. Nevertheless, we do not ignore the reporting and make appropriate inquiry into all concerns brought to our attention. Also, due to our federal grant agreement, our cemetery facilities and operations undergo periodic unannounced inspections by the federal government. The results of the inspections are positive and fail to support the criticisms published by "The Capital".

Regarding the supervision of Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, the Superintendent in charge is a Korean War veteran and has been with the cemetery for ten years. His personnel folder contains many letters of complement from individual veterans, veteran's families, veterans organizations, and public officials.

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Mr James P Davis

Your sentiment regarding an unspoken bond between veterans is understood and appreciated. However, as a combat wounded, 100% disabled Vietnam veteran, I have received excellent care, compassion, and understanding from non-veteran VA supervisors and staff. Also, some of our own Agency's Service Officers are non-veterans and many times outperform their veteran peers in obtaining benefits, compensation, pension and entitlements for veterans and their dependents. My fellow members of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, the administration of the VA and I agree that, in order to serve our veterans best, we must recruit staff with the highest degree of knowledge, skills and abilities. This often includes the appointment of nonveteran staff members.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole was the key note speaker at the dedication of the Maryland World War II Memorial this past summer. In his address he stated that without the efforts of our civilians, a World War II victory would not have been possible.

However, with consideration toward the fact that discrimination against non veterans in public employment is illegal, we wholeheartedly endorsed the legislation Governor Glendening signed into law, which legally increased from five to ten the
additional points a veteran receives on an examination for State employment. While serving in the armed forces, many of our fellow veterans did not have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals or to enhance their career skills. We are committed to providing an equal playing field for veterans.

Your letter indicates that we share the goal of full and enhanced service to our veterans and to their families. It would be a distinct pleasure to speak with you regarding our service mission. Until the end of March, I will be fully involved with legislative concerns, and June through September with veterans organization commitments. On a mutually agreeable date during the interim months, and if you agree, I would like to meet with you personally. As I am not, always immediately available by telephone, and if you have a choice of dates that we could meet, please contact our Deputy Director, Dick Shatzer, at 410-333-4428.

Governor Glendening and I appreciate you taking the time to share your feelings and suggestions, and I will be looking forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Bratten, Jr.
Director