Why the Arlington National Cemetery photos are inappropriate

Originally published in the 9/6/2024 East Mountain Independent

On Aug. 29, the U.S. Army took an unprecedented step in issuing a statement in support of one of its civilian employees. The statement was unprecedented in that in supporting its employee, who works at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), the Army rebuked a presidential campaign and a former president.

Because of the high drama surrounding All Things Trump, sides have been taken. As is so often the case, there is much more to the story, than a simple, “Trump bad, Army good,” or the other side of the coin, “Trump was abused, media is biased.”

I am a former military public affairs officer, and the type of policy enforced by ANC is very familiar territory for me. I hadn’t planned to write a column this week as I am on vacation, but this story really pulls at me, perhaps because my parents are buried at ANC. In the manner of past and present PAOs the world over, I am structuring this column as a “response to query.”

Q. What is wrong with a former president visiting Arlington National Cemetery?

A. Absolutely nothing. In fact, veterans and active duty servicemembers wish current and former presidents would pay more attention to combat casualties and the gravity of military service. A former president paying tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is a very fine thing.

Q. There were photos published of President Trump laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Was this wrong?

A. No. Photography is allowed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photography is allowed in many s of ANC. I have taken photos of my parents’ grave at ANC and have published them on my social media. This is allowed.

Q. Trump’s campaign published a statement on social media from the Gold Star families stating they invited him to their loved ones’ gravesites and authorized photography. What’s the problem?

A. These gravesites were in Section 60. Section 60 is designated for those recently killed in combat, and private photography is not allowed, even by family members. This is out of respect for all mourners in the vicinity. While the family members may have been fine with the campaign taking photos and video, the family was violating ANC policy.

Q. What exactly is Section 60?

A. Section 60 was officially designated in 2018 and is reserved for casualties of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. About 900 servicemembers are buried there. Only ANC personnel are authorized to take photos or video, generally as part of funeral services.

Q. What is the policy that the Trump campaign violated?

A. In addition to photography not being permitted in Section 60, military facilities are not to be used for political campaigns. In its statement, the Army said, “Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign. Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”

Q. Shouldn’t ANC follow the wishes of the family?

A. No. The families of other servicemembers interred at Section 60 must be considered. There are two other gravestones visible in photographs; the families of those servicemembers did not give permission for their loved ones to appear in campaign photographs. It’s inappropriate no matter the candidate. Remember, first, military facilities are not to be used for political campaigns. Second, private photography is not allowed at Section 60. Beyond the consideration for our nation’s heroes and their families, it’s simply ghoulish to stand in a military cemetery grinning with thumbs up all around.

Q. What happened precisely?

A. According to NPR reports, an ANC staff member attempted to prevent a Trump campaign staff photographer from taking gravesite photos. A Trump campaign staffer reportedly shoved the ANC staff member, and photos and video were taken, in violation of ANC policy, both with regard to Section 60, and federal proscription on using military facilities for campaign purposes. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who was in attendance, also snagged a video clip for use in his own campaign (As Trump would say, “Classy!”).

Q. What happens next?

A. In its Aug. 29 statement, the Army stated that it had reviewed the incident, the ANC employee had declined to press charges, and so the Army considered the matter “closed,” meaning no further action will be taken. However, the fact that the Army took the step of issuing a formal statement had been unheard of until now. The military is famously and deliberately apolitical and wishes no visibility of any kind in any campaign. The Trump campaign’s behavior — with two veterans, campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (who is a former Marine combat correspondent and should definitely know these photography rules as well as I do), in the most prominent roles — was so egregious and outrageous that the Army was forced to issue a formal statement.

As for my opinion on the matter: No political candidate should use our military as a campaign prop. For Trump to do so, after making several ignorant and obnoxious comments about veterans, is truly repugnant. For the campaign, led by a former Marine, to blatantly and openly violate well-known rules in one of the most sacred spaces of the military’s most sacred space, is an abomination.

Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appeared regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican for 36 years, she became an independent upon reading the 2024 Republican platform. She lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at news.ind.merritt@gmail.com.