Letter to Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs - Call on Department of Veterans Affairs to Ban Confederate Flags from Veteran Cemeteries

Letter

Dear Secretary McDonald:

In May, millions of Americans observed Memorial Day, an opportunity to collectively honor and thank our fallen war heroes for their service to our nation. For many, Memorial Day is a time to visit our Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. The men and women interned in these sacred sites fought for freedom, justice, and unity.

National Cemetery Administration Directive 3220 of 2005 authorizes the display of the Confederate battle flag on flagpoles at national cemeteries with interned Confederate soldiers. We believe the Confederate battle flag has no place flying over U.S. property, especially not at VA national cemeteries, where families and loved ones go to pay respect to our nation's military heroes.

On May 19, 2016, by a vote of 265 - 159, the House of Representatives voted to halt the VA policy that allows for the large-scale display of the Confederate battle flag at VA national cemeteries. We encourage you to take immediate action to revise this policy to ensure that those visiting our nation's veteran cemeteries next Memorial Day are not confronted with a symbol of intolerance, racism, and opposition to the United States.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to end the VA policy that allows the Confederate battle flag to fly over VA national cemeteries.

Sincerely,