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| USS Navy photo of Monitor crew |
Thursday, on an airport tarmac in suburban Washington,
D.C., in a choreographed military display of respect, flag-draped caskets bearing
the remains of two men who died on active duty will be taken from a plane to waiting
hearses.
Unlike service members who died in Afghanistan, Iraq or
other places, no one knows these men, or for that matter, their identities.
They were lost along with 14 of their shipmates, more
than 150 years ago, when the ironclad USS Monitor sank off Cape Hatteras, N.C. The
bodies of the two were found in the Union vessel’s gun turret in 2002.
Years of intense research and forensic analysis thus far have
not ascertained their identity, but efforts continue at Joint POW/MIA
Accounting Command (JPAC) in Hawaii.
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| Facial reconstructions of two sailors |
The U.S. Navy is providing full honors to the two sailors,
expected to be the last seamen from the Civil War whose remains will be located. Burial is scheduled for Friday afternoon at Arlington National
Cemetery. Members of the public can attend the interment.
"The
fact it has been 150 years or two days (since a death) doesn't make any
difference,” said Stuart B. McLean, director of ceremonies and special events
in Naval District Washington.
Ten families that
possibly may be descendants of the sailors will attend. Each family has been
assigned a casualty assistance officer.
The Picket this week learned details of events related to
the USS Monitor crew interment.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, ABOUT 11:30
AM
The event at Dulles International Airport in Virginia is
called a “dignified transfer of remains.”
The caskets are being carried aboard a commercial flight
from Honolulu, home to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), where the
bones and teeth were analyzed. Based off those, experts have narrowed down from
16 individuals that were missing from the Monitor to about six who could be the
two sailors.
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| 2002 expedition (U.S. Navy) |
Media will be on hand to witness the flag-covered caskets
being taken from a conveyor attached to the plane. “Hand salute” and other
commands will be uttered as the remains are solemnly carried by teams to the
two hearses on the tarmac.
"It will
be quick, but stirring,” McLean said of the remains transfer.
The remains will be held overnight at an area funeral
home.
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Midday
Descendants of
the Monitor crew will attend a luncheon hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary
Foundation in Alexandria, Va.
4
p.m., invitation-only funeral service at Fort
Myer Memorial Chapel.
Family
members, dignitaries and others will attend the non-denominational Christian
service. It was determined that the sailors were Christian, McLean told the
Picket.
Speakers are
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Kathryn Sullivan, former astronaut and acting under secretary
of commerce for oceans and atmosphere; and Civil War historian and author James
B. McPherson.
Scripture readings
and a homily are planned, as well as the singing of the Navy hymn, “Eternal
Father.”
About 4:30 p.m.
The caskets
will be carried on caissons from the chapel to Arlington National Cemetery.
Family members and mourners will follow the Army’s Old Guard military escort.
Burial will
take place in section 46 of the cemetery, which is between the
amphitheater and the USS Maine Mast memorial.
“There’s lot of interest” by members of the public in
attending the interment, said McLean, although he could not estimate
how many might attend. At least 50 people in period costume will be on hand,
but weapons of any kind are not allowed.
Driving to the grave site also is prohibited and the public cannot take part in the funeral procession. Attendees
may park in the ANC Welcome Center parking garage and either walk or take, for
a fee, the Martz tour tram to the Amphitheater.
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| Turret recovery (U.S. Navy) |
The specific date of the interment was chosen to
recognize the Monitor's role in the Battle of Hampton Roads 151 years ago on
March 8-9. The Monitor sank off the North Carolina coast on Dec. 31, 1862.
A monument
bearing the names of the 16 lost sailors will be erected at a later date,
according to McLean.
IN THE FUTURE
Forensic
experts will continue their efforts to identify the two sailors. Military
records from the Civil War aren’t good and there are no dental X-rays, making
the task very challenging.
"What I would like people to know is that we're
here, and committed to the ideal of bringing home our fallen," says U.S.
Army Sgt. Maj. Danang McKay, JPAC command senior enlisted leader. "It
doesn't matter if that happened during World War II or it happens in future
conflicts, we will always be here. We'll bring you home."
The biological profiles concluded that the sailors were
both white males, one was 17 to 24 years old; the other was in his 30's. Both stood
about 5 foot 7 inches tall.
Forensic anthropologist Robert Mann, director of the
Forensic Science Academy for JPAC, in a statement said teams are trying to
locate other descendants of other missing Monitor crew members to take DNA
samples.
"We will never give up trying to identify these sailors,"
said Mann.
