Photo By Senior Airman Cody Martin | Cemeteries throughout Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ark., are provided...... read more read more
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EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – In preparation for World War II, the United States government purchased land east of Fort Smith that later became Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center. Included in that purchase were gravesites, containing the ancestors of the land’s previous residents.
Since that time, Guardsmen and civilian employees at Fort Chaffee have provided care to the 25 gravesites scattered throughout the property.
During his 15 years at the post, Daniel Farrer, Fort Chaffee environmental program manager, has worked with the facilities branch and is captivated by the military’s care for the families and the cemeteries.
“I’ve been very impressed with how courteous the military is to the families, how respectful they are taking care of the cemeteries and how helpful they are with providing assistance to people who want to have their relatives buried there,” Farrer said.
The Department of Public Works at Fort Chaffee takes care of the cemeteries, mowing and weed eating the grounds and tending to the headstones.
“Our roads and grounds staff has done very well and always take great pride in our cemetery upkeep,” said Sergeant First Class Keri Davis, FCJMTC engineer tech.
Military personnel and civilians are allowed entry, however civilians will need to coordinate with Sgt. Christopher Carter, real property clerk with the Department of Public Works, and range control, as well as receive an escort from Fort Chaffee personnel. Fort Chaffee also typically sets aside six to eight weekends per year to allow civilians to gain access.
Most visitors to the cemetery come during Decoration Days and funerals. If a family wished their relative to be buried at one of the gravesites at Fort Chaffee, they would need to contact the Fort Chaffee Real Property Office at 479-484-3219.
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2016 13:25 |
| Story ID: | 213922 |
| Location: | FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Chaffee provides care to cemeteries, by SrA Cody Martin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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