From AFT:
“Veterans cemeteries will be
fully open to visitors this Memorial Day”
After two years of limited
attendance at Veterans Affairs cemeteries on Memorial Day because of the
COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s commemoration ceremonies will be completely open
to the public once again, department officials announced Monday. All VA
national cemeteries will be open Memorial Day weekend from dawn to dusk, with
no limits on entry for visitors. For the last two years, the number of
individuals allowed in the sites has been severely restricted because of the
coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, the locations were almost completely closed, as
the initial wave of virus cases spread across America. VA officials said they
will still encourage visitors to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines
on masking and social distancing to remain safe. “There is no more fitting
place to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and
service members than in a national cemetery,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said
in a statement. “Here lie those who served, sacrificed and — in many cases —
gave their lives for us and our country. We are forever in their debt.”
VA maintains 155 national
cemeteries and 34 other memorial sites in 43 states and Puerto Rico. Most have
some events planned for Memorial Day weekend, including placing American flags
on veterans headstones in advance of the holiday. VA officials said some of
those events will also be streamed online, for visitors who are unable to visit
in person or unsure about the potential health risks of attending the live
events. Department officials expect to be monitoring virus cases indefinitely,
but are hopeful it will eventually become more of a nuisance than public health
threat. McDonough is scheduled to preside over the wreath laying at the New
Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery on Sunday. VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy
will host a similar event at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas. President
Joe Biden is expected to take part in a commemoration ceremony over the weekend
as well, but details of his plans have not yet been made public by the White
House.
Nearly 22,000 veterans connected
to the VA medical system have died from Covid-related illnesses over the last
26 months.
^ I’m glad to see things
returning back to normal. ^
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