New Military Mortuary Opens

[kskiska]

DOVER -- A new, $30 million military mortuary was dedicated at Dover Air Force Base on Monday, a gleaming, brightly lit, state-of-the-art facility.

Military and government officials hope it is seldom used.

"Pray God that the workload of this facility will be light, and the use will be little," said U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden.

(snip)

Because of the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the mortuary is currently operating in such a "contingency" condition, with about 25 reservists and other personnel assisting the staff.

Giles said the workload at the mortuary has ranged recently from about one a day to seven a day.

"You all see the news," she said.

more…
http://www.delmarvanow.com/news/stories/20031028/localnews/533565.html

[wtmusic]

1. The Press Room will be state-of-the-art

and double as a utility closet

[Judi Lynn]

2. A detail you'd never expect to read:

(snip) A safe room where remains are scanned for unexploded ordnance has foot-thick concrete walls and blast-proof doors and windows that can withstand the force of half a pound of C-4 explosive. At the old mortuary, workers had to be evacuated as a safety precaution if unexploded ordnance was detected. (snip)

[Tempest]

3. Just in time for the 15 dead in today's attack

This is getting just too surreal for me.

[0007]

10. The number is up to 26

[Benhurst]

4. "Pray God that the workload of this facility will be light,

and the use will be little," said U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden.

Yeah. Sure. Not very likely if the Senate continues to play poodle to Dubya the way you have, Joe.

[Kinkistyle]

5. Was it built by a subsidiary of Halliburton?

Wouldn't be surprised if it was...

[Tempest]

7. Nason Construction Co.

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2003/10/26newdafbmortuary.html

Construction began in August 2002, overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers and performed by Nason Construction Co. of Wilmington.

----------
No major contributions listed from 2000 to 2004 (www.opensecrets.org)

Thomas Nason (CEO)
$250 to Dan Wofford

Michael Berardi (President)
$250 to Associated Builders & Contractors
$500 to Arlen Specter

[latebloomer]

6. Rep. Castle was "comforted"

that the three flag-draped bodies in his helicopter were coming to this loverly new mortuary.

Bet that made the families feel all warm and wonderful, too!

Don't tell me-- he's a repuke?!?

[peterh]

8. I remember someone saying….

Nothing in politics comes as a surprise…It’s all planned. Just as PNAC’s early 90’s game-plan is currently being implemented, ancillary services must also be implemented…


A new mortuary had been in the works for years, but the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prompted Congress to approve funding and put the project on the fast track.


:eyes:

[UpInArms]

9. was it built to accomodate these

http://www.livejournal.com/users/symptom/371745.html

(original links now go nowhere - all the news stories about this are gone down the rathole)

77,000 body bags
February 11, 2003

FEARS that Iraq will inflict heavy casualties on British and American troops intensified yesterday when it emerged the Pentagon had ordered almost five times the number of body bags it requested before the last Gulf War.

Within weeks it will have more than 77,000 bags at the ready, compared with 16,000 in 1991.

In the last conflict, 148 US soldiers were killed in combat, including 35 by "friendly fire", while Iraqi forces suffered some 30,000 casualties.

...more...