PRESS RELEASE
EDGERTON FORMS VETERANS DEFENDING ARLINGTON
Asheville, NC - HK Edgerton, past president of the Asheville, NC branch of the NAACP, announces today that he has formed Veterans Defending Arlington to oppose the Naming Commission's recommendations involving Arlington National Cemetery. The Naming Commission, who has also recommended US Military Base renamings, released its 3rd Report in September, which called for removal in the “most cost effective” way possible of the "Reconciliation" Memorial.
The Memorial was designed and sculpted by Jewish confederate veteran, Moses Ezekiel, and was dedicated by US President Wilson in 1914. It was erected in the center of the Confederate Veteran plot at Arlington National Cemetery. Ezekiel is buried at the base of the Memorial.
"I formed this group because what is planned at Arlington is unthinkable....to literally take away the headstone of a veteran because this or that person is offended by it has gone too far" Edgerton said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin accepted the recommendation on October 6, 2022 and the Arlington National Cemetery Advisory Committee will be taking up the recommendations on November 7th and 8th.
"This is a slap in the face to every veteran, just before veterans day to even have this on the agenda and that is what I will say if they let me speak" Edgerton said
"I'm asking all Veterans to unite with me and oppose the desecration that is planned for the veterans cenotaph at Arlington" Mr. Edgerton concluded.
The group submitted a letter signed by 50 veterans from all branches of the US Armed forces to the Advisory Committee on October 27th, 2022
Edgerton provided this link for Veterans interested in joining.
XXX