News Releases
HAYS, KAN. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today praised Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy’s support to restore inurnment eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery to the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) and other active duty designees.
“Veterans who have sacrificed for our country – including the Women Air Force Service Pilots – deserve the honor of being inurned at Arlington National Cemetery,” Sen. Moran said. “I’m pleased the Acting Army Secretary supports resolving this flawed decision and will continue working to make certain veterans and their families are properly honored for their service to our nation.”
In February, Sen. Moran and a bipartisan group of senators called on Acting Secretary Murphy to use his existing authority to specify that active duty designees are eligible for inurnment, asking that the Army “resolve this matter with respect and compassion for veterans and their families.”
A 1977 law designated the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots, American Merchant Marines and 35 other groups of individuals as eligible to receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A decision by the Department of the Army in 2002 authorized these active duty designees to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery. Last year, the Department of the Army reversed the 2002 decision on the grounds that the original 1977 law only applied to VA benefits.
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Related Files
- SECARMY ANC Letter_SEN Moran.pdf (100.7 KBs)
- Letter to Army on ANC Inurnment.pdf (828.2 KBs)