WASHINGTON – As Americans commemorate Memorial Day and honor our fallen heroes, U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) are leading an effort to ensure military chaplains who died while serving their nation are memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery.
The senators introduced the Chaplains Memorial Preservation Act to allow the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces to update the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chaplains’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery with the names of all military chaplains who died on active duty.
“Arlington National Cemetery is a sacred place honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who wore our nation’s uniform. Memorializing the chaplains who gave their lives in support of their country and dedicated themselves to ministering to their brothers and sisters in arms by etching their names into monuments on the Chaplains Hill symbolizes our deep appreciation for their heroism and bravery,” Boozman said.
“Military chaplains who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms deserve a final resting place that honors all the parts of their service, both to our country and to the souls of their fellow servicemembers,” said Warnock. “I am proud to stand with countless veterans and clergy who’ve long worked to advance this important conversation, and I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Boozman to memorialize these brave chaplains who gave their lives for our country. This legislation is the least Congress can do properly to honor the calling of these military chaplains, and their commitment to serve a mission greater than themselves.”
“The Board and membership of National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces expresses its appreciation for the leadership of Senators Warnock and Boozman for coming together to initiate this legislation. We represent over a hundred faiths, religious traditions, and denominations represented in the Military Chaplain Corps, and have struggled for eight years over administrative hurdles to include the names of the chaplains who died in service and to right this wrong in their honor,” said Rabbi Harold L. Robinson D.D, Rear Admiral of National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces. “We are grateful for Senators Warnock and Boozman who joined together across party lines, to memorialize these chaplains and represent the spirit of our national aspiration to be ‘one nation under God.’ God bless them and God bless the United States of America.”
“Beginning with the birth of our nation’s military forces, our chaplains have provided extraordinary service at great personal risk. The American Legion is proud to see the introduction of the Chaplains Memorial Preservation Act which will provide for the maintenance and upkeep to memorials on Chaplains Hill at Arlington National Cemetery,” said National Commander James W. Bill Oxford of American Legion. “We thank Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator John Boozman for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working with them to get this bill passed by Congress.”
Full text of the bill is available here.