Arlington Scandal Sparks New Safeguards

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Arlington Scandal Sparks New Safeguards
August 02, 2010
Army News Service|by J.D. Leipold

WASHINGTON -- Arlington National Cemetery is implementing new operating procedures to counter problems that led to what may now be thousands of mismarked gravesites.

Kathryn A. Condon, who took over as executive director of the Army National Cemeteries Program last month, testified Thursday before a panel of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Reform Committee.

She said changes at the cemetery have ranged from the establishment of new delegations of authority for fund certification and approvals, to developing and implementing new standards for marking and updating maps to the assignment of gravesites, to procedures for the proper handling of remains as well as ensuring an accurate layout of internment sections.

Condon said she and acting Arlington Cemetery superintendent Patrick Hallinan and their staffs have been establishing new standard operating procedures on a daily basis.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, chairwoman of the ad hoc subcommittee on contracting oversight, said her panel's investigation leads her to believe there may be between 4,900 to 6,600 graves that are unmarked or mislabeled on cemetery maps.