Jewish Chaplain Memorial Back on Track

 


In Arlington National Cemetery, there is a unique monument known as “Chaplains Hill” that memorializes the names of 242 chaplains who perished while on active duty. Strangely enough, none of the 13 Jewish chaplains who have died while serving are honored there. There has been a movement to change that for some time now.

 

Everything was on track this past year to make that happen, until a hidden requirement of congressional approval for new monuments at Arlington was revealed. This “hidden” fact was one part of a larger scandal that led to the former cemetery superintendent being fired. This was a major setback for the campaign, which had already raised funds and support from each of the branch’s chief chaplains.

The good news is, that this week N.Y. Representative Anthony Weiner and N.Y. Senator Charles Schumer introduced resolutions in the House of Representatives and the Senate to authorize the memorial. Thirty-four organizations from all corners of the Jewish community are urging representatives to support H. Con. Res. 12 and S. Con. Res. 4. The House version had 24 co-sponsors as of Tuesday, while the Senate version had four.

Military and Jewish organizations have come together from all over to support the resolutions including the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, the Jewish War Veterans, New York-based members of the American Legion, the American Jewish Committee, the Orthodox Union, and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

“Members of the Jewish faith have served our country since the days of the American Revolution, and Jewish chaplains have bravely served alongside,” said JWB Director Rabbi Harold Robinson. “Their valor should be remembered in the same way that other chaplains are remembered. We hope all Americans who hear of this effort will call their representatives and senators and ask them to co-sponsor this resolution.-

So there is your tasking; contact your representatives and make some noise about how important it is to memorialize our Jewish chaplains alongside their brave peers.

 

The proposed memorial marker

 

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One comment

  • Adrienne Zetoony

    Please memorialize the Jewish chaplains that perished while serving their country. Chaplains Hill should honor ALL chaplains who served their country heroically!