Two World War II German graves with Nazi swastikas have been removed from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery and replaced with new headstones.
SAN ANTONIO – Two World War II German graves with Nazi swastikas have been removed from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery and replaced with new headstones.
The pair of headstones had become a long-running controversy over whether they were historical artifacts worth preserving or hate emblems that should be destroyed, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Cemetery director Aubrey David brought several workers to the graves of German prisoners of war Alfred P. Kafka and Georg Forst around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.
“Clearly it took a long time for this to happen, and obviously that’s the right thing to do,” said Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, founder and president of the Foundation for Military Religious Freedom. who advocates unwanted religious proselytism in the armed services.
After learning of the gravestones last May, the foundation demanded that Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilke order them removed. The group also wanted Wilke to make “an immediate and sincere apology to all U.S. veterans and their families.”
The VA refused, saying it has a responsibility to preserve “historical resources,” even if they recognize divisive historical characters or events. But members of Congress, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and representatives. Will Hurd of San Antonio and Kay Granger of Fort Worth responded by requesting the removal of the headstones.
“I’m glad the headstones have been replaced,” Rep. Joaquin Castro said. “It’s unpleasant to think that the symbols of the Third Reich and the Nazi regime would be found in a U.S. military cemetery.”
It is unclear whether a third tombstone bearing Nazi symbols has also been removed from the Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in Utah.