Why would there be unmarked graves in a National (i.e., American military) Cemetery?

[Torvald Von Mansee]

My mother is interred in a National Cemetery. Right next to her grave, there are two other rather obvious unmarked graves. Given you can get a headstone paid for by the government, why would they likely be unmarked? I just hope they aren't "dishonored dead"..

[Wolferz]

The current residenst in those unmarked holes may not have been positively identified.

[Aktungbby]

The use of stone blocks for marking unknown graves in national cemeteries was discontinued on Oct. 21, 1903, and the graves were marked with the same design as those furnished for the known dead.

In order to ensure that all graves in military controlled cemeteries were marked appropriately, Congress on April 28, 1904 (58th Cong., Chap. 1762), also authorized the furnishing of headstones for the unmarked graves of civilians buried in post cemeteries.

http://www.cem.va.gov/history/hmhist.asp Even at Arlington there is sloppiness approaching scandal in record keeping which is slowly getting caught up with but is far from perfect. The work continues to improve as inadequacies are discovered, stemming back to the Civil War.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

It occurs that they might be marked, technically. I'll have to check nearby markers the next time I am there to see if there are multiple names.

[em2nought]

At Bushnell, I think they temporarily remove the marker to add the spouse to it when the spouse dies. Maybe it's something like that?

[Platapus]

While the Tomb of the Unknowns is the more famous "unmarked" grave site, it is not the only one in Arlington.

There is the tomb for the War of 1812 in which there are 14 unmarked graves with unidentified bodies buried.

In the 1866 Civil War Site there are 2,111 unknown soldiers buried there.

Did you know that there is a Tomb of the Unknown of Washington's army in Washington Square, PA?
"In unmarked graves within this square lie thousands of unknown soldiers of Washington's Army who died of wounds and sickness during the Revolutionary War."

http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tomb-o...wn-soldier.htm

And, unfortunately, due to the management of the National cemetery, there are simply mistaken and forgotten graves. A very sad state of affairs, indeed.

But then, to be honest, our nation's concern for dead veterans seldom go past buying a made in China magnet for our cars.

[August]

Originally Posted by Platapus

But then, to be honest, our nation's concern for dead veterans seldom go past buying a made in China magnet for our cars.

Buck up Spanky, not all of us are like that.

[Wolferz]

Any nation that forgets its warriors will itself be forgotten

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Any nation that forgets its warriors will itself be forgotten

Do you know of a single example of that?

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Do you know of a single example of that?

I used to, but I forgot.