Legionnaire to Philippines: ‘Veterans Cannot Suspend Death’
Larry Atkison, superintendent of the Clark Veterans Cemetery, briefs American Legion Family members about the suspension of new burials. (Photo by John Raughter)

Legionnaire to Philippines: ‘Veterans Cannot Suspend Death’

A unique interpretation of a 2013 memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and a Filipino government agency has led to a controversial suspension of burials at the Clark Veterans Cemetery (CVC) in Angeles City.

The cemetery is located on the now-closed Clark Air Base and is the resting place for more than 8,600 U.S. military veterans and dependents.

Although the U.S. government allocated $5 million to maintain the cemetery, Arnel Casonova – head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Philippine agency with jurisdiction on the matter – stopped accepting burials because “guidelines on the maintenance and use of CVC have to first be made.” Casonova would not elaborate how long the suspension will be in effect, but the policy has left American Legion family members and U.S. government officials fuming.

“Veterans, like other members of any society, cannot suspend death while politicians prepare a restoration plan,” Edward J. Craft wrote to American Legion National Commander Michael D. Helm. “There are cases where families are incurring huge financial debts, preserving loved ones bodies at funeral homes or making decisions against family wishes to cremate remains of veterans while these agencies prepare their ‘restoration plans.’ This is not the way to treat a veteran, who has given so much for his country.”

Helm was clearly moved by the plight of these veterans. “This has gone on entirely too long,” he said. “Grieving families need closure, and these delays must end now. The U.S. government must use every diplomatic tool at its disposal to convince the Philippine government to lift the suspension.”

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip S. Goldberg shares the Legion’s concerns. He told Craft the situation is not due to any decision by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) or his office. “It is due solely to BCDA deciding unilaterally to reinterpret a signed agreement between the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines…The United States Embassy is making every effort to rectify this unjust situation as soon as possible,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg believes Casonova is the chief cause of the problem. Casanova, he said, “has interpreted the agreement, which he himself signed on behalf of the government of the Philippines, in a manner wholly inconsistent with both the purpose and intent of the document, and at odds with the intent of the United States Congress when they appropriated $5 million to restore and maintain Clark Cemetery. The Embassy has made its dissatisfaction with the actions of Mr. Casanova clear to him both in writing and in person as well as with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, and I have raised this issue personally with various government officials. Furthermore, the United States Department of State in Washington has also registered its concern with the Embassy of the Philippines to honor the agreement of Clark Veterans Cemetery and we continue to call for the resumption of burials immediately.”

The agreement, Goldberg told Craft, “explicitly calls for Clark to be an ‘open cemetery,’ that continues to conduct new burials for those who qualify through honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America or through prior service in the Philippine Scouts.”

Meanwhile, deceased veterans like John Fortune must wait to have their remains interred. “This is an absolute disgrace,” said American Legion Department of the Philippines Commander Gordon G. Grubb. “John Fortune’s son, Army Sgt. Maurice Fortune, died in Iraq in 2004. He is the only Iraq War veteran buried at the cemetery. Now, his dad, a Vietnam veteran, cannot join him. His ashes remain on hold until they settle this thing.”

The cemetery’s superintendent, Larry Atkison, works for the ABMC and assured The American Legion that his office is doing everything it can to resume burials. “The effort to get the suspension lifted is still being worked," he said. "We are continuing to engage the Philippine government at different levels. Hopefully soon, I will have good news for you.”