Arlington National Cemetery cannot keep bodies sorted

Running a cemetery is a a lot more difficult business than numerous people assume, particularly a cemetery of the size and prestige of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Unfortunately, Arlington National Superintendent John Metzler and his deputy Thurman Higginbotham are being fired also as changed after a series of scandalous mix-ups involving mislabeled graves and at least one service member’s body being buried on top of one more, the Pentagon told MSNBC. In addition, Higginbotham will be investigated for allegedly hacking some computer files of a previous Arlington National Cemetery employee.

Article Resource: Arlington National Cemetery can’t keep bodies sorted

Arlington National Cemetery without a body database?

Metzler and Higginbotham were criticized heavily for not having an electronic database of the gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and instead relying upon paper records. This weighed on Secretary of the Army John McHugh’s mind as he made the move to dismiss them. There could be a new position created to oversee Arlington National operations.

John Metzler has been a government employee for practically 42 years. He served as Arlington National Cemetery superintendent for 19 years. John Sr. preceded him as Arlington National Cemetery superintendent.

’Does any person run a perfect organization?’ Metzler asked

Although John Metzler admitted mistakes, he said they weren't malicious. While military rank and salary aren’t easy to come by, some reasonable supposition would indicate that John Metzler, with more than 18 years of service in the military, would make at least $3,454 per month as outlined by the standard military pay table. He probably makes at least $2,000 to $3,000 a lot more per month as the equivalent of a higher officer rank, although this is speculation.

Was John C. Metzler Jr. earning any of his pay?

Whatever the case, from John McHugh’s point of view, Metzler had failed to earn his salary, in light of the surprising events. Not only that, but John Metzler saying that “nobody’s perfect” and telling the media that some of the issues occurred before he began his job at Arlington National Cemetery are errors that are simply inexcusable in such a high-profile position funded by taxpayers. That doesn't even consider at all his responsibility of tending to the military dead.

Is the Arlington National Cemetery running out of room for people?

Could that be the reason for the sorting and burial anomalies? In its 200 acres, Arlington National has a lot more than 300,000 buried. That doesn’t take into account the special vaults that carry more than 40,000 total niches for cremated remains and will soon be expanded to 100,000. As Arlington National averages 28 funerals per day, 6,900 per year, space will probably be an issue soon. Burr Oak Cemetery, a privately owned cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, had this exact same problem, and some employees resorted to less-than-respectful means of dealing with the situation Burr Oak Cemetery, a privately owned cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, had this problem, and some employees resorted to horrible means of dealing with the situation. Here’s hoping that Arlington National Cemetery will fix any administrati! ve problems and continue to serve America in the most honorable fashion it has since its official designation that was on June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Additional info at these websites

MSNBC.com

msnbc.msn.com/id/37612199

Arlington National Cemetery

arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/anc_facts.html

WashingtonExaminer.com

washingtonexaminer.com/nation/arlington-cemetery-superintendent-retiring-95922519.html

Military pay chart

docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2010WebPayTable34.pdf