... who served together, died together, and were buried together.
December 15, 2015 10:23 AM Subscribe
Thoughts on Honor, Service, and Memory by Michael B. Klein.
Simple and well written...
posted by HuronBob at 10:58 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 10:58 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey I know Michael, this is really cool to see here.
posted by Space Coyote at 11:08 AM on December 15, 2015
posted by Space Coyote at 11:08 AM on December 15, 2015
This was a nice little article.
One thing that's interesting to me is that the use of symbols other than the cross and the Star of David (i.e. the recognition that there were more than just Christians and Jews in the military), didn't start until after Vietnam, when control of the National Cemetery System was transferred to the VA. Prior to that, the NCS was controlled by the Army and War dept (DoD after '49), and it was much less egalitarian. Blacks and whites were separated, woman generally weren't buried in the NCS, no other major religions were recognized. Even the architecture is different now. The DoD essentially used the NCS as a piece of propaganda to push the agenda of American nationalism and imperialism, America as this one monolithic thing that was ruling the world (note for example the National Cemeteries overseas).
Then it gets transferred to the VA - a branch of the government that, rather than being about war and strategy, is about people, and you see this shift. Cemeteries become more and more integrated, all of the symbols allowed today are implemented, and now, at least in one section of Arlington, you can even have a picnic on the grounds with the dead, which is not allowed in any other National Cemetery.
It's almost like the government does its best work when it tries to take care of people instead of some idea of "America."
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:28 AM on December 15, 2015 [8 favorites]
One thing that's interesting to me is that the use of symbols other than the cross and the Star of David (i.e. the recognition that there were more than just Christians and Jews in the military), didn't start until after Vietnam, when control of the National Cemetery System was transferred to the VA. Prior to that, the NCS was controlled by the Army and War dept (DoD after '49), and it was much less egalitarian. Blacks and whites were separated, woman generally weren't buried in the NCS, no other major religions were recognized. Even the architecture is different now. The DoD essentially used the NCS as a piece of propaganda to push the agenda of American nationalism and imperialism, America as this one monolithic thing that was ruling the world (note for example the National Cemeteries overseas).
Then it gets transferred to the VA - a branch of the government that, rather than being about war and strategy, is about people, and you see this shift. Cemeteries become more and more integrated, all of the symbols allowed today are implemented, and now, at least in one section of Arlington, you can even have a picnic on the grounds with the dead, which is not allowed in any other National Cemetery.
It's almost like the government does its best work when it tries to take care of people instead of some idea of "America."
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:28 AM on December 15, 2015 [8 favorites]
Thanks for sharing this, metaquarry. Also thanks for reminding me to finally sign up and chuck my $5 at MeFi already after lurking for so long.
posted by mbklein at 11:48 AM on December 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by mbklein at 11:48 AM on December 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
Hey, welcome, mbklein -- and that's a very nice piece of writing!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:15 PM on December 15, 2015
posted by wenestvedt at 12:15 PM on December 15, 2015
One thing that's interesting to me is that the use of symbols other than the cross and the Star of David (i.e. the recognition that there were more than just Christians and Jews in the military)
Until the 1980s, cadets at West Point were required to select from "Catholic" or "non-Catholic" when they arrived for orientation and induction, so Jews (and everyone else) went to the mandatory Sunday services at the Protestant chapel.
posted by Etrigan at 12:25 PM on December 15, 2015
Until the 1980s, cadets at West Point were required to select from "Catholic" or "non-Catholic" when they arrived for orientation and induction, so Jews (and everyone else) went to the mandatory Sunday services at the Protestant chapel.
posted by Etrigan at 12:25 PM on December 15, 2015
Might be worth noting or recalling that our armed forces were segregated during WWII, the war we waged in part against Hitler's racist ideas. The military integrated in 1950, but it took a number of years (1957) till the nation was integrated.
posted by Postroad at 12:49 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Postroad at 12:49 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by wenestvedt at 10:50 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]