WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jewish groups are asking the United States Congress to pass a resolution to approve a memorial honoring Jewish chaplains who died while serving on active duty. Thirty groups, such as the Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish War Veterans, the ADL and the American Jewish Committee, signed on to a letter sent to Congress in support of H. Con. Res. 12 and S. Con. Res. 4, which would add the names of Jewish chaplains to the Arlington Cemetery memorial.
“Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery appropriately memorializes the names of 242 chaplains who perished while on active duty, but astonishingly, none of the 13 Jewish chaplains who have died while serving are honored on Chaplains Hill,” said the letter to members of Congress.
“Members of the Jewish faith have served our country since the days of the American Revolution, and Jewish chaplains have bravely served alongside,” the letter continued. “In total, 13 Jewish chaplains have perished while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. Working with the American Legion and the Jewish War Veterans, the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council has raised the funds to establish this memorial. We urge you to act swiftly to pass this legislation in the House and in the Senate.”
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) and Sen. Charles Shumer (D-NY) initiated the legislation.