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In the various letters people have received from
Roger Rapp, who ordered the flag down, has stated
that there is no federal law which prohibits the flying
of the Confederate flag at Pt. Lookout Cemetery but that the Veterans
Affairs regulations prescribe the manner in which the flag may
be flown, that he is content with the regulations as they stand
and that he has no intention of changing them. Robin Pohlman, who
had jurisdiction over the Pt. Lookout Cemetery, stated that
she agreed with this policy and it will remain consistent. These
two
people hold the fate of those American POW Veterans in their hand.
With one stroke of a pen, they could change these regulations,
but refused to do so.
- In 1910 the federal government erected an 85'
monument to honor the Confederate POWs who died at Point Lookout.
It was the first federal monument to CSA soldiers! It is estimated
that over 14,000 Confederates perished at Point Lookout, including
a 50% death rate of incarcerated civilians.
- There is not one single union soldier buried in this cemetery.
- The Confederate Flag IS an American flag. Our CSA veterans were
Americans. This was their flag that they fought under, was imprisoned
for, and died for.
- A rule change is needed. Let them know you already have a copy
of the rules - you’re requesting it changed to be able to
fly our ancestors’ Confederate flag on a flag pole 365
days a year in this prisoner-of- war cemetery.
- Visit every national
cemetery
in your area and fill out the comment card in the Administration
Office, asking for the CSA flag to fly over Confederate Veterans
buried in national cemeteries.
There is no federal law prohibiting the Confederate flag to fly
over our ancestors' grave, but merely "regulations" prescribed
by the Veterans Administration that is in charge of perpetual care
of National Cemeteries. These regulations are left to the discretion
of "Acting Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs."
Roger Rapp
Director of National Cemetery System
Department of Veteran Affairs,810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420-0001
202-273-5225
rapprog@mail.va.gov
The Director under Roger Rapp is the Director of
the Baltimore National Cemetery, who has jurisdiction over the
Point Lookout Cemetery. She also agrees that the flag should
not
fly over the Point Lookout graves "because that's the
rules!" At the time this took place, the director was Robin Pohlman. Now
the Director is Kirt Leopard.
Director with jurisdiction over Pt. Lookout Cemetery
5501 Frederick Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21228
410-644-9696
Contact any / all of the following officials
and ask for a change in the Veterans Administration Cemetery
Flag
Regulations
that
would
allow the Confederate Battle Flag to fly over Point Lookout
Cemetery on a
daily basis. |
Martin O'Malley
Governor of Maryland
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401-1925
governor@gov.state.md.us
1-800-811-8336 or 1-800-735-2258
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Hon. James Nicholson
Sec. of Vet. Affairs/Nat' Cemeteries
810 Vermont Ave.
Washington D.C., 20420
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Hon. William F. Tuerk
Under Sec. for Memorial Affairs
810 Vermont Ave.
Washington D.C., 20420
Responsible for policy, management and operation
of the National Cemetery Administration.
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St. Mary's County Sate Delegate
Delegate John Bohanan, Jr.
Lowe House Office Bldg. Rm 415
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
1-800-492-7122 x3314
410-841-3227 or 301-858-3277
john.bohanan@house.state.md.us
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St. Mary's County State Senator
Roy P. Dyson
James Senate Office Building, Room 102
110 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
1-800-492-7122 x3673
410-841-3673 or 301-858-3673
roy.dyson@senate.state.md.us
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Commissioner of 4th District
Dan Raley
P.O. Box 653
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-475-4200x1354
dan_raley@co.saint-marys.md.us
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St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners
(where cemetery
is located)
Francis Jack Russell
P.O. Box 653
Leonardtown, MD 20650
301-475-4200x1359
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The Veterans Administration's
Mission Statement |
Since the Veteran Administration, by their own statements
claimed the following, they should have "no problem" granting
our request:
- The National Cemetery Administration is committed to
serving our nation's veterans by meeting their burial
needs with compassion and dignity.
- The National Cemetery Administration's vision is
to provide a lasting tribute to our nation's veterans
by being mission driven, results oriented and customer
focused.
- The National Cemetery Administration's purpose is
to maintain national cemeteries as national shrines,
sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized
there.
- The National Cemetery Administration's mission is
to provide a lasting memorial for veterans.
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You can voice your opinion on how
you feel about a government of the people, for the people and by
the people, is working for you, the tax payer. Are they listening
to you? We have over 15,680 signatures from across the USA asking
them to fly the POW's Battle Flag over their grave. Why are they
refusing these American Veterans their flag??
How can
they claim to do all these things, when they took down the
Pt. Lookout Veterans' Flag from their grave?
Veteran Administration
information: 1-800-827-1000 or public.inquiry@mail.va.gov
U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs: http://veterans.senate.gov/
Veterans Administration Executive Biographies: http://www.va.gov/opa/bios/
To contact your representative: www.house.gov/writerep/
Freedom of Information Act: www.va.gov/foia/default.htm
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