Because of the way I personally feel about those who protect our nation, our freedoms and the freedoms of others around the world, I am compelled to write this article. It gives me no pleasure to do so, but I want this on the record.

The remains, or partial remains, of some 274 of our heroes, upon their return to Dover Air Force Base, were cremated and disposed of in a landfill.

That alone is enough to cause me great outrage but it is not the only part of this story which does so and, honestly, I do not know which part of this whole thing incenses me more.

It was the families of those heroes who gave authorization to the military, to dispose of the remains in a dignified and respectful way.

While cremation is indeed respectful and dignified, dumping those ashes in a landfill equates to everything which is neither.

In fact, it is shameful.

Back in 2008, it was discovered that, while Dover Air Force Base did not operate its own crematorium, it contracted with 2 funeral homes nearby. One of those 2 was Torbert’s Funeral Chapel which handled the remains of both humans and pets.

At the time, a report indicated that, “absolutely no evidence whatsoever at this point that any human remains were at all ever mistreated, or ever not cremated where they were supposed to be cremated. That said, the secretary believes that is it inappropriate, even if permissible under the rules and regulations, to cremate our fallen, our heroes, in a facility that also cremates pets.”

Knowing what we now know, regarding the disposition of the remains of our nation’s bravest in a King’s County Virginia landfill, the first part of the above report statement becomes a lie; and the second part, regarding the possible use of a pet crematorium, become dubious at best.

The disposal of ashes in the landfill occurred between 2004 and 2008.

So far, 3 principles have been named but none of those 3 have lost their jobs.

Col. Robert H. Edmondson, the former commander of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, left his position due to scheduled regular rotation a year ago and did receive a letter of reprimand. He will no longer be promoted but continues to be employed by the military.

 Trevor Dean, Colonel Edmondson’s former deputy, and Quinton R. Keel, the former mortuary director, both of who are civilians, were demoted within the last 3 months to lesser positions; however, both men remain at Dover, just not attached to the mortuary detail.

That any of these 3 men, after what we know, continue to have a single thing to do with the military in any capacity whatsoever is disgraceful as far as I am concerned.

Clearly, there were others who had to know what was going on and since there is no military policy or regulation authorizing such measures regarding the disposal of military remains in a landfill, individuals had to do so on their own.

While I believe no President would know then day-to-day operations of any particular military base, I do believe that once a situation such as this becomes known, whether publicly of within only the confines of the military, action should be taken and I would think immediately, to remove from the military, anyone who was involved in such a disrespectful practice.

So far, this has not happened.

Finally, for now, we have yet another statement which, personally, I find beyond comprehension.

Air Force officials has apparently told the Washington Post, the paper which broke the story and it’s magnitude, that there are no plans now to alert the families.

As far as I am concerned, if they know there are 274 sets of remains disposed of in such a despicable manner, they should also know darn well who those remains belonged to and the families of those heroes should, immediately, be notified.

Imagine, knowing that your loved one’s remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base, AND that you have given permission TO the military to dispose of those remains in a dignified and respectful manner…and NOT knowing whether or not your family member was treated with the respect they earned or…dumped in a landfill.

To me…ALL families of our fallen soldiers between 2004 and 2008 DESERVE to know EXACTLY what happened to the remains. ALL of them. NO family member of a fallen soldier who allowed the remains to be disposed of by the military should have to wonder, knowing what we know now, what actually happened.

Now, I ask you, what part of all of this is most distressing to YOU? That our heroes remains were dumped in a landfill? That nobody has been fired? That some may have been cremated in a pet crematory? That there are no plans to notify any family members? That the Commander in Chief, knowing what went on, and who ensured that the terrorist behind 9-11 received a proper Islamic funeral, has said nothing and done nothing?

Those who serve and have served our nation with honor deserve our respect. Those who served and paid the ultimate price, deserve our eternal respect.

Those who wear the uniform yet show such disrespect as was shown to at least 274 of their own fallen brothers and sisters…deserve no amount of respect nor do they deserve to wear the uniform.