The report of the Department of the Army which has been submitted to your Committee on this bill correctly states that official records indicate that the Cemetery was known to be in Pineville, Louisiana at the time it was established immediately after the Civil War, although since the nearest railroad station and steamship landing were in Alexandria, the name of the latter City had the greater significance at the time for those wishing to come to the Cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones and consequently, the Cemetery was named the "Alexandria National Cemetery." Conditions have since changed. While Alexandria continues to be prominent, the City of Pineville has come of its own. It is growing-industry is locating and developing there and for many years, it has become an area and a municipality separate and distinct from its neighboring City of Alexandria. In fact, the two are now often referred to as the "twin cities" of Central Louisiana. The City of Pineville has had its Post Office for many years and for all purposes, practical and otherwise, Pineville is a separate and distinct municipal entity from the City of Alexandria. It is significant to note that the two modes of transportation referred to in the Army's report, steamship and rail, which apparently were the basis for naming the Cemetery "Alexandria" now are practically extinct as means of passenger transportation and certainly are no longer the modes used in attracting persons interested in coming to the Cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones. In fact, there are no longer any steamship lines transporting passengers and at this moment, the railroads have petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission to discontinue most of its passenger services. The citizens of Pineville have long felt the need to have the name of the national cemetery situated within its corporate limits changed to bear the name of the city in which it is located. Of course, it should be borne in mind that a matter of this nature normally does not carry the same weight or interest that other problems sometimes carry in a city or community. That probably accounts best in explanation for the statement by the Department of the Army in its report to this Committee that it knew of "no widespread interest" in changing the cemetery name at this late date. The fact is, however, that responsible citizens and officials of the City and the Parish of Rapides, in which both Alexandria and Pineville are situated, are most interested in effecting this name change. To substantiate this last statement, I am attaching hereto and making part hereof the following documentary information in support of the bill : 1. Resolution by the Rapides Parish Police Jury. 2. Resolution (attached correspondence) of the Kiwanis Club of Pineville. 3. Resolution of the American Legion Post of Pineville. 4. Letter from the School teacher and American Government Class of Pineville High School. 5. Editorial from the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, Alexandria, Louisiana. Let me point out that while I have received the above evidence in support of the bill, I have received no letter, correspondence or message in opposition to the bill. There is one other factor which should be considered by this Committee in regard to the merits of this bill. According to official records of the Army, there is one other national cemetery bearing the identical name of the subject cemetery, the Alexandria National Cemetery located at Alexandria, Virginia. To this extent, therefore, passage of my bill would eliminate any confusion which may have heretofore existed in having two national cemeteries with the identical name. Finally, I want to allude to the report of the Department of the Army, previously referred to, on this bill. I note with interest the statement in the report that use of a new name in this case could be worked out in time without great expense or operational difficulty. The Army further "defers” its opinion on the merits of the bill to that of the Congress. I submit, therefore, that the facts and circumstances warrant changing the name of the Alexandria National Cemetery to the "Pineville National Cemetery" and I respectfully request this Committee to report favorably H.R. 10795 which would accomplish this name change. RESOLUTION On motion by Mr. Scarbrock, seconded by Mr. Creed: Whereas, the designation of the Alexandria National Cemetery located in the City of Pineville is no longer a proper designation thereof because of the growth and size and present standing of the City of Pineville, and Whereas, it is no longer proper that the National Cemetery located in the City of Pineville should be designated as the Alexandria National Cemetery, which in actuality was a misnomer, and Whereas, there are one or more other National Cemeteries in these United States known and designated as the Alexandria National Cemetery, and Whereas, the officials and the citizens of the City of Pineville desire that the name of the cemetery be changed so as to properly designate it as the Pineville National Cemetery, Now therefore, be it resolved that the Rapides Parish Police Jury, for and on behalf of the citizens of the community, do now request of the proper officials of the Federal Government that the name of the cemetery be changed from the Alexandria National Cemetery to the Pineville National Cemetery. This is to certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Rapides Parish Police Jury in regular session convened on February 8, 1966. CLEIGHTON L. BUSHNELL, Secretary, Rapides Parish Police Jury. KIWANIS CLUB OF PINEVILLE, HON. SPEEDY O. LONG, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN LONG: The attached resolution was passed by the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club of Pineville, Louisiana, at the regular meeting of January 4, 1966. The impetus for this action was provided by a History class at Pineville High School which states that there are two Alexandria National Cemeteries presently in the United States-one located at Alexandria, Virginia, and the other at Pineville, Louisiana. I am sure you are aware of the fact that the cemetery which is located at Rapides Parish, Louisiana, is in fact not in Alexandria, but is in the City Limits of Pineville. The local press has taken note of the efforts of this class at Pineville High School to have the name changed, and the Alexandria Daily Town Talk recently published an editorial supporting the change in the name. In addition, the Pineville City Council has gone on record favoring this change. We will appreciate your efforts in making this change, which we believe is long overdue. Yours very truly, VIRGIL V. AYRES, Secretary. EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL OF PINEVILLE, LA., INC., DATED JANUARY 4, 1966 Resolved: We, the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club of Pineville, Louisiana, Inc. are unanimously in favor of requesting that the proper authorities change the name of the National Cemetery located in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, to the name of the Pineville National Cemetery. I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the excerpts from the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of the Kiwanis International of Pineville, Louisiana, Inc., held on January 4, 1966. Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, this 6th day of January, 1966. T KIWANIS CLUB OF PINEVILLE, Hon. SPEEDY O. LONG, Congress of the United States, DEAR SPEEDY: On behalf of myself and the members of the Kiwanis Club of Pineville, I would like to thank you for your efforts in changing the name of the Alexandria National Cemetery to the Pineville National Cemetery. We appre ciate very much your continuing support of this bill. Please let us know if we can be of any help to you. Yours very truly, VIRGIL V. AYRES, President. PINEVILLE, LA. DEAR CONGRESSMAN LONG: Our American Legion Post, Robert K. Willis Jr. Post 276 located in Pineville, La., has gone on record as favoring the changing the name of Alexandria National Cemetery to Pineville National Cemetery. Any help that you can give us in promoting this change will be highly appreciated. Yours truly, WOODROW W. CROUCH. PINEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, Hon. SPEEDY LONG, DEAR CONGRESSMAN LONG: We, the American Government class of Pineville High School, would like to express our appreciation to you for all you have done to help us with regard to the changing of the name of the Alexandria National Cemetery. We received a copy of the bill you introduced to the House on April 28, concerning the "Pineville" National Cemetery. We were extremely pleased and would like to inform you of our latest developments. The Alexandria-Pineville Chamber of Commerce now has a resolution in the committee and two representatives from our class appeared on the Ethma Odum Show, KALB-TV, so we feel that the project has been properly presented to the public. We are now in the process of writing letters to the local garden clubs asking for resolutions which give their support. We will be expecting a favorable report and would appreciate a notice of when you think action will be taken on the bill. Sincerely, LANA ROSS, Committee Chairman. [From the Alexandria (La.) Daily Town Talk, Dec. 10, 1965] IT SHOULD BE "PINEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY" It has been long coming, but the suggestion of a group of Pineville students that the name of the Alexandria National Cemetery should be changed is very much in order. Once upon a time-long, long ago the cemetery was located in a rural area. It was named for the closest city. But today it is virtually in the center of the city of Pineville, and continuing to call it the "Alexandria National Cemetery" is grossly improper. It may be, among other considerations, an insult to the good name of Pineville; yet it is of no great pride to Alexandrians because it does not lie within their city or in its unincorporated suburbs. Further, as pointed out when the Pineville students presented their request to the city council Tuesday night, there is a national cemetery at Alexandria, Va., and this is cause for confusion. That cemetery, incidentally, is the world-famous Arlington National Cemetery but apparently is closer to Alexandria than Arlington. :I. STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE CLARENCE E. MILLER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OHIO Mr. Chairman, I have introduced a bill to provide for a National Cemetery in the Southeastern quadrant of Ohio, for the burial of veterans of our wars. It is fitting to provide these men, who have pledged their lives to the preservation of our freedoms, resting places maintained by the country they served. All over the nation there is a need for an expansion of our national cemetery system. This need is particularly acute in Southeastern Ohio. Indeed, in the entire state of Ohio, there is no cemetery where veterans may exercise their right of burial in a National Cemetery. Every veteran should have the right to be buried in a National Cemetery situated reasonably close to his home. It is not too much for the friends and the family of a deceased veteran to expect that their departed loved one will be buried within a reasonable visiting distance. Yet, this right is being ignored. There is no National Cemetery close enough for Ohio veterans to conveniently take advantage of their well-earned rights to burial in such a cemetery for themselves and their dependents. I believe that a cemetery located in Southeastern Ohio would be in everyone's best interests since there is a greater availability of land at reasonable rates in this part of Ohio. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, a cemetery in this area could serve areas of other states bordering Ohio in this region which also do not presently have a National Cemetery in close proximity for use of their veterans. I respectfully request the expeditious and favorable consideration of my bill, H. R. 16328. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. OLIN E. TEAGUE, Chairman, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Since it was not possible to schedule my appearance before your Special Subcommittee on Cemeteries and Burial Benefits during the hearings on cemetery administration, I am taking this means of bringing to your attention the statement which I would like to have made a part of the hearings record. Naturally, I would also appreciate your considering the matter presented in my statement. If you and your Committee feel that an exception should have properly been made in such an exceptional case as far as the Arlington National Cemetery is concerned, I would appreciate your so advising the proper authorities in my behalf. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. ANCHER NELSEN, Member of Congress. STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE ANCHER NELSEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA Recently I received a request from the family of a veteran of World War II asking that his cremated remains be buried in Arlington Cemetery. The request is a reasonable one since it was the family's idea that the burial be on the same plot with the veteran's brother who was buried in Arlington Cemetery some 20 years ago. The case is rather unusual in that the veteran who just died, Henry Reed Waugh, was the identical twin brother to the late Colonel Richard R. Waugh, an Army colonel who was buried at Arlington in 1945. Now as I understand it, new criteria have been established for burial in Arlington Cemetery and these criteria became necessary because of the space problem. In this particular case the veteran does not meet any of these new criteria and, in effect, action to allow his burial in Arlington at this time would have to take the form of granting an exception even though the request does not entail the assignment of a separate plot in the cemetery. My office made preliminary inquiry to the Office of Support Services and found that in all probability the request would not be granted. At that point I called the Office of the Secretary of the Army to further pursue what seemed to me to be an entirely reasonable request in view of the unique relationship between these two men. The Secretary's office was very cooperative in stating that every effort would be made to investigate the situation. It was requested that I address a letter to the Secretary of the Army for action purposes. I have now received a reply from the Department of the Army which again denies our request. In this reply, which I ask to be made a part of my statement at this point, it is stated that "decedent's entitlement to burial in his own right under the applicable 92-497-68-7 standards must be established." Then the next statement is that "The assignment of a grave is a secondary consideration." Now my point in all this is that a reasonable request has been made that the remains of identical twins be buried on the same plot in Arlington Cemetery. The Department of the Army then denies that request on the basis that veteran Henry Waugh does not meet the criteria for burial in the Cemetery even though no additional space would be required. I might point out that not even a headstone would be required because when a headstone for Colonel Waugh's grave was obtained some years ago, space was left on the headstone for the brother's inscription. No complications would result as the widow of Colonel Richard Waugh has long since remarried and her entitlement to interment in the Cemetery does not come into question. As I understand it, these hearings have been called by the Veterans' Affairs Committee to investigate the administration of our national cemeteries. I have asked to appear here today to bring to your attention an incident that has arisen in the administration of Arlington Cemetery by the Department of the Army. I realize that I may be too closely involved to be coldly objective, but it does seem to me that in this particular instance officials of the Department of the Army have been unduly strict in their adherence to established regulations. To have granted the exception in this case would hardly have done irreparable damage to the regulations which apply in the general sense and which I admit are very necessary because of the crowded conditions at Arlington Cemetery. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, Washington, D.C., March 21, 1968. Hon. ANCHER NELSEN, DEAR MR. NELSEN: Secretary Resor has asked that I reply to your recent letter concerning the burial of the cremated remains of the late Henry Reed Waugh, a veteran of World War II. Though he is not eligible for interment under the current Arlington standards, his family has asked for an exception in this instance since burial of the ashes would not require assignment of a separate grave. Because there was a particularly close tie in life between Mr. Waugh and his identical twin, the late Colonel Richard R. Waugh, I am more than sorry that the interment may not be authorized solely on the basis that space is available. Before a service is scheduled, the decedent's entitlement to burial in his own right under the applicable standards must be established. The assignment of a grave is a secondary consideration. I hope you will understand that the Secretary cannot in good conscience be influenced unduly by sympathetic considerations and authorize the burial of a person who does not meet the eligibility criteria. Every death is a supreme tragedy to the family concerned, and decisions in their behalf must be made impartially on the basis of published standards. I regret that circumstances in this instance preclude a favorable reply. ROBERT E. JORDAN III, CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. OLIN E. TEAGUE, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C., March 26, 1968. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your letter of March 8th in regard to hearings presently being held by your Committee in regard to H.R. 2125 and other bills in regard to National Cemeteries. I am enclosing a statement concerning this legislation. I would greatly appreciate it if you would include this statement as part of the record. |