WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) today introduced legislation to identify and research Jewish-American servicemembers interred in American cemeteries overseas who are buried beneath grave markers that do not accurately reflect their religion and heritage. 

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act would create a 10-year program within the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to identify and conduct research on servicemembers who are incorrectly memorialized and locate and contact their surviving descendants to facilitate a grave marker change to properly represent their religious heritage. In order to process a grave marker replacement, there must be an error, such as an inaccurate religious indication, and it must be initiated by a decedent’s next of kin with supporting evidence.

“We owe a debt we can never repay to those who have given their last full measure of devotion on behalf of our nation and the freedoms we cherish, religious liberty being chief among them,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation makes certain that the religious heritage of those who have died for our country, particularly Jewish-American servicemembers, is rightfully represented at their final resting places, providing their survivors with assurance that their loved one’s faith is being acknowledged and memorialized with accuracy.”

“Our nation has a duty to fully honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” said Sen. Rosen. “I’m proud to join Senator Moran in introducing this bipartisan legislation to correct the headstones of servicemembers by ensuring that the religious affiliation of our fallen is properly and accurately recognized.”

During World War II, the scale of burials conducted in theater resulted, at times, in clerical errors concerning the grave markers needed for the fallen. Additionally, some American-Jewish servicemembers did not wish to publicly display their faith on their dog tags when fighting against Nazi Germany. Currently, there are an estimated 600 American-Jewish servicemembers who were killed in action during World War II that are incorrectly buried under a Latin Cross grave marker, instead of the Star of David.

The Fallen Servicemember Religious Heritage Restoration Act is cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio).

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

“JWV fully endorses the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program Act, legislation that creates a program within the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to recognize and identify Jewish servicemembers improperly buried in ABMC cemeteries,” said Gary Ginsburg, USA (retired), JWV National Commander. “Congress must establish this meaningful $500,000 annual grant for ten years to ensure that Jewish servicemembers killed in action and currently buried under a Latin Cross will be properly buried under a Star of David grave marker.  Now is the time for Congress to act and provide proper recognition of these heroes' religious and heritage significance.”

“The Vietnam Veterans of America strongly supports this honorable effort to restore the appropriate faith to our fallen service members markers,” said Jack McManus, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America. “This is owed to our fallen patriots and absolutely must be done. “

"Gold Star Spouses of America strongly supports the establishment of the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program,” said Tamra Sipes, National President of Gold Star Spouses of America. “Ensuring that all servicemembers are honored according to their faith and heritage is a critical step in preserving their dignity and respecting the wishes of their families. This bill would provide much-needed resources to correct historical oversights and honor the legacies of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

"Even amid the daunting challenges our community faces in this moment in history, we must never forget to celebrate who we are,” said Neta Meltzer, Interim Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau in Kansas City. “One of the primary ways we do that is by being proudly, publicly Jewish each and every day. JCRB & AJC is proud to support legislation that recognizes, honors, and affirms the religious heritage of American-Jewish servicemembers who served this country proudly."

“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is proud to support the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act,” said Bonnie Carroll, National President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. “We appreciate Chairman Moran and Senator Rosen, and Representatives Wasserman Schultz and Miller for their steadfast commitment to recognizing and honoring the personal faith of those who gave all in service to our nation.”

“A fallen service member has earned the right to have their personal faith properly preserved,” said Robert Olivarez, National Commander of Military Order of the Purple Heart. “This bill is critical to ensuring that is done.”

"Nearly 11,000 Jewish American soldiers gave their lives during World War II, but many still haven’t received proper burials, laying under a Latin Cross rather than a Star of David,” said Karen Paikin Barall, Vice President, Government Relations, Jewish Federations of North America. “Jewish Federations proudly support this bill to fund the painstaking research in identifying American-Jewish soldiers improperly buried overseas. Whether they died for their country during the Battle or Normandy or the Battle of Manila, each deserves to rest under the marker that not only represents their religion, but their heritage."

“Congress found that approximately 900 American Jewish service members are inappropriately buried under Latin cross headstones in overseas U.S. military cemeteries,” said Nancy Springer, Associate Director of the National Legislative Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “To remedy this longstanding issue, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) supports the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act to identify improperly marked graves, verify the religious heritage of the deceased, and enable descendants to request a replacement Star of David headstone. American Jewish service members who fought and died for our country deserve to have their heritage properly recognized and honored. The VFW applauds Chairman Moran and Senator Rosen for introducing this important legislation and calls for its swift passage.”

“The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) proudly stands in support of the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act,” said Levi Sadr, Director of Government Affairs at the Non Commissioned Officers Association. “This important legislation reaffirms the fundamental right of fallen service members to have their religious beliefs respectfully acknowledged in memorial displays and commemorative settings across the nation. As an organization that represents the voice, service, and sacrifice of enlisted personnel past and present, we believe that honoring the faith traditions of those who have given their lives in service to our country is a matter of dignity, respect, and historical truth. The religious symbols and heritage reflected in many memorials are not only consistent with the personal beliefs of the fallen, but are also longstanding expressions of the values held by generations of service members. This legislation safeguards those expressions from unnecessary censorship and ensures that the legacy of the fallen is preserved in a way that is meaningful to their families, communities, and fellow service members. It also protects the freedom of religious expression in a manner that is inclusive, respectful, and consistent with our Constitution. The NCOA urges lawmakers to pass the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act and to affirm the enduring principles of honor, remembrance, and religious liberty that this nation was built upon.”

This legislation is also supported by the Aleph Institute, The American Legion and American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

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