Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
BBC: US shutdown: 10 unexpected consequences
Never thought about veteran's cemeteries in Europe. Some things on the list are frivolous though.
4 October 2013 Last updated at 04:15 ET
US shutdown: 10 unexpected consequences
By Tom Geoghegan BBC News, Washington
1. One person maintaining the Canada border
It's a 5,525-mile (8,891km) border, with 8,000 obelisk monuments dotted along it. These are cast-iron and stand five feet high, on a three-foot concrete base. Cleaning and maintenance is usually in the hands of eight field officers but seven of them have been told to stay at home.
That leaves acting commissioner Kyle Hipsley on his own. Speaking from a field office in Montana, he said everything was under control.
The other main job of his team, the clearing of trees on the border, can still carry on because it's in the hands of two five-man teams of contractors. But only until the money runs out.
2. Cemeteries in Europe are closed
Suresnes American Cemetery Suresnes American Cemetery near Paris is one of dozens to be closed
Some 125,000 US soldiers, mostly killed in the two World Wars, are buried in 24 graveyards around the world, 20 of them in Europe. They are all closed, according to a statement on the website of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
"I think the way the shutdown has included our overseas veterans' cemeteries is a great shame," says Perry Jefferies of the TexVet organisation in Texas, who served in the first Gulf War.
"These are places of honour and many who travel to them will only have one chance in their lifetime to pay respect to a fallen comrade, family member, or buddy."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24357415
US shutdown: 10 unexpected consequences
By Tom Geoghegan BBC News, Washington
1. One person maintaining the Canada border
It's a 5,525-mile (8,891km) border, with 8,000 obelisk monuments dotted along it. These are cast-iron and stand five feet high, on a three-foot concrete base. Cleaning and maintenance is usually in the hands of eight field officers but seven of them have been told to stay at home.
That leaves acting commissioner Kyle Hipsley on his own. Speaking from a field office in Montana, he said everything was under control.
The other main job of his team, the clearing of trees on the border, can still carry on because it's in the hands of two five-man teams of contractors. But only until the money runs out.
2. Cemeteries in Europe are closed
Suresnes American Cemetery Suresnes American Cemetery near Paris is one of dozens to be closed
Some 125,000 US soldiers, mostly killed in the two World Wars, are buried in 24 graveyards around the world, 20 of them in Europe. They are all closed, according to a statement on the website of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
"I think the way the shutdown has included our overseas veterans' cemeteries is a great shame," says Perry Jefferies of the TexVet organisation in Texas, who served in the first Gulf War.
"These are places of honour and many who travel to them will only have one chance in their lifetime to pay respect to a fallen comrade, family member, or buddy."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24357415
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
