than any other committee in the Congress, it would follow that this serious situation should receive your attention, so that your committee can hopefully find some solutions thereto. We will not repeat the many resolutions or go into detail on the background which concerns the national cemeteries problem which has been presented by all the veterans' organizations; however, we will state the position of the Veterans of World War I as clearly and concisely as possible. (1) We believe that the national cemetery system should be under the control of the Veterans' Administration, feeling that this organization is the proper agency to dispense jurisdiction over the burial of veterans, since it has concerned itself with their welfare during their lifetime. (2) We believe that the Veteran's Administration, having been given control, should investigate the possibility of placing veterans' cemeteries wherever the veteran population warrants. (3) We would suggest that property now owned by the Government be used, if suitable, for burial sites, and we further believe it would be germane to the subject to look into the advisability of establishing crematoriums in all future cemetery sites, to take care of the veterans who wish this mode or type of burial. (4) We especially request that a study be made in locating a national cemetery in Alaska. (5) As noted in the recommendations of the Veterans' Advisory Commission which you have recently received, we would recommend the amount allowed for the veterans burial be increased to a realistic amount, in consideration of the rising cost of dying. (6) We also agree with the recommendation of the Commission that Arlington National Cemetery should be reopened at once for burial to any veteran, regardless of his rank or status, until filled. I might add to that, it should never have closed because, as our comrade testified for the VFW, there is plenty of land available to be gotten, so there should never have been any question of it ever being filled. The national importance generated by the return of deceased veterans from the Vietnam conflict has brought to the attention of the Nation and the Congress the importance of the national cemetery system revision, and we commend this distinguished committee, under the able chairmanship of Hon. Olin E. Teague, for this prompt action on behalf of this Nation's veterans. Thank you. Mr. DORN. Thank you so much, Commander. We have, I believe, one other witness here. Col. James W. Chapman, legislative counsel of the Retired Officers Association, and, Colonel, I don't know what kind of statement you have, but you could summarize. If it is not too long, fine. We have to be on the House floor at noon. STATEMENT OF COL. JAMES W. CHAPMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE (RE- Col. CHAPMAN. In view of the time I will try to summarize. Chapman, United States Air Force (retired), the legislative counsel of the Retired Officers Association, which has its national headquarters here in Washington at 1625 Eye Street NW. The Retired Officers Association has been in existence for almost forty years having been established in 1929. Its present membership includes 92,000 retired officers of the seven uniformed services-the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Survey-now called ESSA-the Environmental Science Services Administration-and the Public Health Service. All of our members are veterans-many are veterans of several wars and extensive peacetime service in both "hot" and "cold" war situations, and, as such, are vitally interested in the topic under discussion today-the national cemetery system. Our association holds a biennial convention. The last one was in September 1966 in Minneapolis, Minn., at which time the following resolution was adopted: Now, therefore be it resolved, by the Retired Officers Association, in convention assembled in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 29, 30, 1966, that the Association advocates appropriate action by the Federal Government, including such Congressional legislation as may be necessary, to the end that the benefits and privilegs flowing from burial in a national cemetery reasonably within or near the geographic area of choice of a deceased member of the uniformed services shall continue to be available. We are pleased with the action of Congress in transferring legislative jurisdiction on national cemeteries to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In our opinion, this action places the proper emphasis on the question of national cemeteries by considering them as an adjunct to the programs of veterans' benefits which this committee handles so ably. The lack of definitive action over the past several years, in both the executive branch of the Government and the Congress, in resolving the question as to the future of the national cemetery system, has created much concern in the minds of those men and women who, by virtue of their military service, are entitled to burial in a national cemetery, but who have seen available space inexorably used up, with no further land being acquired for that purpose. Nor has the stated policy of the Government, as expressed in 1962, that cash burial benefits are preferable to the furnishing of actual gravesites, been of value to bereaved families when in fact no such additional benefits have been provided. It is for this reason that we applaud the action of this committee in initiating a study of this matter so promptly after the President's message of January 30, in which he suggested that "every veteran who wants it should have the right of burial in a national cemetery situated reasonably close to his home." We are sure the committee will wish to explore all reasonable solutions to the problem of providing adequate burial spaces for all eligible veterans, bearing in mind the costs involved in the various suggestions which will be proposed and the inevitable fact that suitable land for cemetery use will as time passes become more and more limited and expensive, particularly in areas of high population density. In that respect, this committee must cope with the very problem that the President mentioned in his instructions to the Veterans' Advisory Commission, when he asked them to evaluate all veterans' benefits to "assure that our tax dollars are being used most wisely and that the Government is fully meeting its responsibilities." In its studies, the committee may wish to consider if it is more economical for the Federal Government to establish cemeteries on lands which in many cases it already owns or can acquire at minimal cost for such use, or by the payment of increased burial allowances for those persons not electing burial in a national cemetery. With the constantly increasing cost of living and, indeed, the high cost of dying, it would appear that the present system of burial allowances will have to be expanded if it is to serve the purpose for which intended. In recognition of this problem, the Veterans' Advisory Commission has recommended an increase in the burial allowance to $400, of which $100 would be reserved to purchase a plot in the event the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery. Senator Tower, of Texas, has introduced a bill (S. 2316) in the Senate, which would increase the burial allowance by $250 to the person who purchased a plot in a private cemetery for a veteran's burial when space was not available in a national cemetery. Another possibility which the committee may wish to explore is for the Government to make arrangements with the operators of private cemeteries to set aside certain portions of such cemeteries as national cemeteries. Historically, several of the present national cemeteries had their beginnings in this way when local cemeteries were used, whenever practicable, for the burial of the Civil War dead. We suggest that the committee also give consideration to the possibility of reviewing the current space requirements for burial in national cemeteries with the view of reducing the plot of ground allocated to each grave to a smaller size in order to extend the lifespan of the existing cemeteries, and that it consider maximum utilization of the system adopted a few years ago of using a single grave for more than one burial. When, due to the critical space situation at Arlington National Cemetery, the Department of the Army first adopted the policy of burials of more than one member of a family in the same grave, there was initial adverse reaction to the idea, but we believe now that it is generally acceptable to the families concerned. We suggest also that consideration be given to the erection of suitable memorial buildings in or adjacent to cemeteries or in other appropriate places, in which the urns of individuals who have been cremated can be placed. It is our understanding that, under present cemetery operating rules, an urn is normally interred in a standardsized burial plot. These suggestions are offered to the committee as possible areas of study in the development of a firm national policy on the national cemetery system. We feel that with many people the honor and prestige associated with burial in a national cemetery would be more desirable than entitlement to an additional burial allowance. I know of several cases where the widow of a veteran has gone to extra expense, far exceeding the burial allowances, in order to transport the remains of her husband for burial in a national cemetery in order to comply with his last wishes. On the other hand, a veteran living at some distance from a national cemetery may prefer burial near his home and loved ones. We recommend that the system allow this option. Location of cemeteries to be estabilshed under this program will of course be a matter of serious concern. It must depend largely upon the density of the veteran population in any given area, and we recommend that consideration be given to regional cemeteries in areas where there is not an adequate requirement for at least one cemetery per State. The U.S. Veterans' Advisory Commission, several Members of Congress, veterans organizations, and other interested groups have recommended that the entire Federal cemetery function, with the exception of the Department of Interior cemeteries, be reassigned to the Veterans' Administration. The Retired Officers Association endorses, in principle, the proposals that the Federal cemetery function, with certain exceptions, be so reassigned. However, we respectfully recommend that, in addition to the cemeteries which now come under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and which would, under these proposals, remain the responsibility of the Department, Arlington National Cemetery be also excepted from such transfer. In addition, those cemeteries which are presently under the jurisdiction of the military departments and are operated as adjuncts of active military installations should remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. Generally, these are relatively small cemeteries and are used to inter the remains of those individuals for whom the military departments have jurisdictional responsibility. By reason of Arlington's significance, the Tomb of the Unknowns and the amphitheater connected therewith, the graves and memorials to Presidents and other national figures, together with the fact that protocol dictates that foreign rulers and other dignitaries include it in their itineraries on state visits, suitable ceremonial arrangements should be maintained under appropriate military control. We, therefore, recommend that it remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense with the responsibility for its operation delegated to the Department of the Army. Arlington National Cemetery is one of the Nation's most revered shrines and, although it is only one of the 98 cemeteries which come under the national cemetery system, it ranks above all others as a special place of honor in the minds of the American people. It is our sincere belief that Arlington should be retained as a shrine wherein the Nation's singular heroes, past, present, and future, are buried with the fullest honors that this Nation can render. We, therefore, wish to see it remain in an active status for as long a time as is possible, even at the risk of further restrictions of the categories of individuals eligible for burial therein. If the present restrictions on burials in Arlington should be removed, it would be completely filled within a matter of a few years and, thus, its value as a final resting place for the heroes to come would be negated. We are fully cognizant, Mr. Chairman, of the fact that many veterans have been denied burial in Arlington because the restrictions which were made necessary in order to prevent the early closing of the cemetery. We recommend strongly that another national cemetery be established at the earliest date, somewhere in a nearby area. In that connection, we suggest setting aside some of the area at the Manassas Battlefield for that purpose. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me this opportunity to make a statement on this important matter. Mr. DORN. Thank you, Colonel. This is a good statement. We appreciate your coming before the committee. Your recommendations are excellent and will be considered. Thank you so much. Without objection, statements received from Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Fleet Reserve Association, and letters and statement received from the National Catholic Cemetery Conference, with an article from the publication, "The Catholic Cemetery," will be inserted at this point in the record. (The material referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF THE PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA ON THE NATIONAL CEMETERIES The Paralyzed Veterans of America feels strongly that every man and woman who has seen service in defense of his country is entitled to burial in a National Cemetery. The President, in his address to Congress on January 30, 1968, has stated that the veteran should be buried in a National Cemetery situated reasonably close to his home. In accordance with this, we would make the following recommendations: (1) That each state be furnished its own National Cemetery for deceased resident veterans of that state: (2) That the District of Columbia be furnished a National Cemetery for deceased resident veterans of the District and (3) That a National Cemetery be furnished to each territorial possession of the United States for deceased resident veterans of those territories. It is the consideration of our Organization that the Veterans' Administration should be set up as the sole authority under which the National Cemetery program should be administered. We would like to recommend that acreage in the Champion Hill area of Mississippi located near the new Veterans' Administration Center, as well as Department of Defense and other Federal installations, be purchased for the purpose of establishing a Central South Military and Veterans Cemetery and National Park. In the interest of land conservation and beautification we would also like to recommend that serious consideration be given to the practice adopted in Italy, whereby huge mausoleums of marble and stone have been constructed, starting many stories below ground, and only a few stories above ground. The deceased are buried within these structures in horizontal vaults on each level. One of the first advantages of this type of burial is that it will take up little land area. The land around these memorials can be used for beautiful recreational, picnic and park facilities. Another advantage is that new stories can be added to the structure as they are needed. (They can also be dug into mountains or constructed in caverns.) The Paralyzed Veterans of America, therefore, would urge this Committee to take all steps necessary to secure the enactment of this program. STATEMENT BY ROBERT W. NOLAN, NATIONAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am Robert W. Nolan, Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy retired. I hold the position of National Executive Secretary of the Fleet Reserve Association and represent 67,000 career enlisted Sailors and Marines, active duty and retired, who comprise our membership. On behalf of my Shipmates. I wish to thank you for this opportunity to present this statement on this vital subject which is so important to all veterans of our nation. The Fleet Reserve Association has a compounded interest in the perplexing problem of national cemeteries since the Fleet Reserve Association is composed |