Another Day Another Barricade Crossed At the World War II Memorial

World War II Veterans Prove Unstoppable, Entering Memorial -- ABC News

Another day, another barricade crossed.

Following the example set on Tuesday by a group of fellow veterans from Mississippi, World War II "honor flights" from Missouri, Illinois and Michigan entered the closed World War II memorial on Wednesday, past a blockade erected because of the government shutdown.

The first busload of veterans arrived to a circus of media and members of Congress just after 11 a.m. Several members of Congress who were on hand opened the barricades, allowing the veterans access to the memorial. Since then, several hundred of them have passed through the gates.

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More News On The Closing of The World War II Memorial

National Park Service to keep WW II Memorial open to veterans -- Washington Post
Veterans Granted Access to Closed World War II Memorial -- NBC Washington
'Sneaking' into the WWII Memorial meant the world to these tourists -- PBS News Hour
Privately-funded WWII memorial barricaded at taxpayer’s expense -- Daily Caller
World War II Memorial Becomes Shutdown Central -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: In a reversal .... veterans are now permitted to enter the park. This was clearly becoming a hot potato for everyone in the political class.

Update #1: How the First Amendment Is Defusing the World War II Memorial Battle -- Slate
Update #2: World War I Memorial Closed, 'Except for 1st Amendment Activities' -- Weekly Standard

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24 Overseas U.S. Military Cemeteries Closed By U.S. Government Shutdown (Update)

Photo of graves at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial by Flickr user palbo

D-Day Memorial Among 24 Overseas Cemeteries Closed By U.S. Government Shutdown -- CBS

The partial shutdown of the U.S. government continues to claim victims - and some of the casualties are military cemeteries abroad.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - the site overlooking the D-Day invasion beaches - is one of 24 U.S. military cemeteries overseas that have been shuttered. The closed cemeteries include 10 in France, and others throughout Europe as well as Mexico, Panama, Tunisia and the Philippines.

More than 9,000 military dead are buried at the Omaha Beach cemetery, which is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Nearly 125,000 U.S. servicemen and women are buried at its cemeteries, and 94,000 missing service members are honored on tablets.

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More News On 24 Overseas U.S. Military Cemeteries Closed By U.S. Government Shutdown

Visitors to D-Day cemetery in France among the victims of U.S. shutdown -- New York Daily News/AP
Military cemeteries overseas are closed -- USA Today
U.S. Military cemeteries close worldwide because of shutdown -- UPI
Shutdown closes historic US military cemeteries in Europe -- Voice of Russia/AFP
Shutdown felt all the way overseas -- at U.S. cemeteries -- PBS

Update: New wave of WWII veterans move barricades to access DC memorial -- FOX News

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Due To Government Shutdown U.S. Military Cemeteries Are Closed Around The World

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. Wikipedia

Shutdown Closes US Military Cemeteries In Europe -- FOX News/AFP

Caen (France) (AFP) – Military cemeteries around the world housing American soldiers who died in key battles during the First and Second World Wars were temporarily closed from Tuesday due to the US government shutdown.

The move affects some 20 cemeteries in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy, Tunisia and Mexico which serve as the final resting place for troops who died in landmark campaigns such as the Normandy D-Day landings, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) said on its website.

"Due to a lack of funding for ABMC operations (US government shutdown), ABMC cemeteries and memorials are temporarily closed," it said.

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My Comment: Upkeep and taking care of a cemetery is a full time job. If this continues expect tall grass and the accumulation of garbage .... not exactly a fitting way to respect those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

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