by Julian E. Barnes
The Pentagon abruptly ordered changes Friday in the way it handles service members' remains after learning that one business used by the Air Force performs both human and animal cremations.
The Delaware facility maintains separate incinerators in different buildings for human remains and animal remains, said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. But the crematorium, in an industrial park, had one sign, which advertised pet cremation services.
Told of the situation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates asked for immediate changes, ordered a broad review and issued an apology to military families, Morrell said.
"Secretary Gates believes the site and signage are insensitive and entirely inappropriate to the dignified treatment of our fallen," Morrell said.
"We just think our heroes deserve to be treated better than that."
The issue was brought to Gates' attention after an officer who attended the cremation Friday morning of a friend killed in combat lodged a complaint.
"This appeared to this soldier that our fallen heroes were taken to a pet crematory," Morrell said, adding that there was no evidence that any human remains were mistreated.
But the complaint, sent by e-mail and accompanied by a photograph of the business, shot up the chain of command in the Pentagon.
The officer was concerned about "the way the facility looked -- he felt it was insensitive," said Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, the Army staff director. "His larger message is that we care in this profession about our fallen comrades."
The bodies of service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Depending on family preferences, the military transports caskets bearing the remains to hometown funeral homes for burial or cremation at government expense.
The Air Force also has contracted since 2001 with two crematoriums in Delaware, officials said. One of them, Torbert Funeral Chapel, has its crematorium in the industrial park and handles both human and animal remains.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, the Air Force staff director, said officials did not know how many service members had been cremated at Torbert.
Officials from the funeral home did not return a call seeking comment late Friday. Bill Torbert, the company president, told the Associated Press that the sign advertising pet cremation services is displayed only on the building where animal remains are handled. There are no signs on the building where human remains are handled.
As part of military practice, all remains of troops being transported must be escorted by a military service member. But military officials said they were not certain Friday whether the remains cremated at the Dover facilities had military escorts.
Some funeral homes have crematoriums, whereas others send remains to off-site facilities, military officials said, adding that it is common for crematoriums not located within funeral homes to handle both human and animal remains.It also is common for facilities that handle both human and animal remains to advertise the pet services, but not human services, officials said.
Under new rules, cremations for service members will take place only at facilities at funeral homes, and not at facilities that also handle animal remains.
"This department will do everything it possibly can to adhere to the principle that the remains of all members of the armed services must be treated with the dignity and respect their sacrifice demands," Morrell said.
Julian E. Barnes is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.
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Comments
You lousy Republicans, you can't even treat our young men and women who have died for our country and your stinking war, you can not even bury them with dignity. You lousy unAmerican garbage!! It will take 50 years to exterminate our government, to get rid of all Bush/Cheney miscreants. A vote for Senator McCain is a vote to continue this outrageous conduct by these " compassionate Republicans "!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 10, 2008 3:24 PM
This is what the Bush/Cheney regime really thinks of our lost warriors. Bush should apologize tomorrow to all Mothers who have lost children in his illegal, immoral war. What a shame that Pelosi and Reid did not have the moral fortitude to impeach these criminals.
Pack your bags, scumbags. Your days are over, and good, damn riddance.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 10, 2008 4:21 PM
They're PEOPLE--not an AGGREGATE--Don quit saying the Bush Admin's term of TROOPS--They are SOLDIERS.
They're people.
And if the Repugs valued THEM--then it wouldnt' MATTER that pets also get cremated in the same facility--THEY ARE DEAD!
And the bush admin killed them.
And BOTH Barack and Hillary keep voting for this damn war.
Posted by: Like the Chicken Hawks value our SOLDIERS! | May 10, 2008 4:42 PM
Impeachment isn't the answer and anyway, how is Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid supposed to know what that regime is doing?? They don't even know themselves, what they and their minions are doing!!! They are just a despicable pair in our White House and I hope, seriously, that those who voted for these clowns are fuming, after all, they are supposed to be the patriot party, or so they say!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 10, 2008 5:12 PM
Impeachment isn't the answer and anyway, how is Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid supposed to know what that regime is doing?? They don't even know themselves, what they and their minions are doing!!! They are just a despicable pair in our White House and I hope, seriously, that those who voted for these clowns are fuming, after all, they are supposed to be the patriot party, or so they say!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 10, 2008 5:13 PM
Gives 'dog tags' a whole new meaning.
Posted by: Vivian | May 10, 2008 9:56 PM
Impeachment tells the world WE KNOW that TORTURE is WRONG.
That we KNOW that going to war over resources that benefit our corporations is WRONG.
don--they're PEOPLE.
Using the word "troops" plays into the hands of the war party.
Posted by: Impeachment Matters for our SOLDIERS | May 11, 2008 6:22 AM
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...
What is the big deal about this? How does the ashes of a cremated, loved pet defile the ashes of a person? What a pathetic notion.
My beloved dog was cremated at such a place. They came in on a Saturday and were so kind and compassionate. I'm putting in my will that I want to be cremated there, in the same place, when I go.
You want to respect soldiers? Don't send them to wars on lies to benefit big corporations. Don't give billion dollar no-bid contracts to huge Republican corporations that give them contaminated drinking water. Don't send them into combat without providing the armored vests and equipment they need. Don't discard them when they come home damaged, broken, and financially ruined from the grueling, ugly job they did tour after tour.
But, oh great, they don't have to worry about being cremated in the same place as Laddie.
Posted by: DD | May 11, 2008 8:42 AM
Ask a family member what the big deal is!! We can't afford to have a separate crematorium for our soldiers, is that too much to ask, after what we asked of them!!!? Come on, ' DD ", it's a big, big deal for the bereaved, I know it is for me and I am a veteran. I hope you aren't of the mind that it's alright to neglect our veterans!! Talk is cheap!! Are you thinking of being buried in a doggie cemetary after your cremated at your doggie's crematorium!!? What nonsense!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 11, 2008 12:59 PM
How do we know that the pentagon has not been cremating untold numbers of soldiers at this facility. Perhaps there have been many soldiers, with no family to look out for them, who have been killed in Iraq and the pentagon does not bother to count them. I have long felt that as was the case in Vietnam, the pentagon is not reporting the real numbers of war dead.
Posted by: lanah | May 11, 2008 1:19 PM
Don Fitzgerald, you are one of my favorite posters, if not most favorite. But this I disagree with you. In light of how much our military people are being abused, I just can't see that making darn sure there isn't a speck of any canine ash in someone's remains is important. Those soldiers were neglected BEFORE they ended up at the crematorium. I prefer fixing that before getting worked up about separate cremation centers.
Many people are buried with their pet's remains. They symbolize unconditional love and loyalty. What is there to ridicule about that? Heck, I wish I could end up having my ashes spread in my horse pasture to help create a better crop of hay.
Posted by: DD | May 11, 2008 9:50 PM
God bless you, " DD " ! You are definitely entitled to your opinion. I do agree with most of what you post and that is good. At least we agree that the jerks in this Administration have failed our men and women in uniform, both here, at home, and in Iraq. May God watch over them!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 11, 2008 10:57 PM