SAAC-PAO 18 April 2022

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Media Policy for Army National Military Cemeteries

[….] ANC and the SAHNC are military installations and media procedures in the cemeteries are governed by 32
CFR Part 553 and AR 360-1.

[….]
Filming or photographing will not be permitted if it conveys the impression that cemetery officials or any visitor or family member is endorsing any product, service or organization. Additionally, ANC will not authorize any filming for partisan, political or fundraising purposes, in accordance with the Hatch Act, 32 CFR 553, and AR 360-1.
[….]

Two days ago, from Mark Alford (r):

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 27, 2024]
Joe Biden left 13 U.S. service members to die at Abbey Gate during his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Since then, Joe and Kamala haven’t even reached out to the 13 families. It’s a slap in the face to our heroes.
Shameful.
[….]

Three years ago:

With Biden Looking On, The Remains Of 13 Service Members Killed In Kabul Return Home
August 29, 2021 3:58 PM ET

With American flags draped over caskets, President Biden watched Sunday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware as the remains of 13 U.S. service members killed in the attack on the Kabul airport this past week were returned to their families.

The process, known as a “dignified transfer,” was a particularly somber occasion, as it came just two days before the president’s Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

[….]

There are scathing responses to Mark Alford’s (r) social media post:

Has Trump ever mentioned or met with the 63 families of service members that died in Afghanistan under his administration? Has he laid wreaths on their Graves on the anniversary of their deaths? [….]

And Trump INSULTS Gold Star families.
And he blamed Gold Star families for giving him Covid.

[….] Did you hear about the fight trump’s team had with the cemetery official? Verbally and physically abused a cemetery official who was trying to stop them from blatantly desecrating hallowed ground. There is absolutely no low with these people. [….]

[….] Shameful exploitation for a pic op. [….]

Trump made fun of gold star families and put down the medal of honor.

Shameful is staging a campaign photo op in the cemetery. He also broke the law. Not surprising from a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist.

General H.R. McMaster told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night that Trump, while president, sought to negotiate with the Taliban as U.S. troops began leaving Afghanistan, which undermined the Afghan government. As a result, the U.S. government forced the Afghan government to release 5,000 members of the Taliban.

So disrespectful to our hallowed ground
Investigation into event is happening as Arlington rules broken, (no surprise), by tRump. [….]

A gold star family has complained that the Trump** campaign has photographed the grave site of their loved one in spite of FEDERAL LAW that prohibits photography.
It’s time for my congressman to call for an investigation into this criminal matter.

Another instance of Don2Old breaking the law
“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,” according to the statement. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”
In a statement to NPR, Arlington National Cemetery said it “can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed.” [….]

Two members of Donald Trump’s campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned.
A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members would be authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60.
When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source.

It doesn’t matter if what you say is true. Just say it with conviction and repeat often, people will believe it.

Sad that they lost their lives in service of their country. Also sad that, as you mentioned that the current administration had a part in this loss, the former administration set it in motion with the Doha Accord. Let’s not forget that there’s blame to be laid at the feet of the former President, “the great negotiator”, as well.

Hey Mark who gives a thumbs up at a soldiers grave…your clown candidate. Former President Donald Trump shared a TikTok video including footage from Arlington National Cemetery that likely violates a federal law against using military cemeteries for campaigning purposes. NPR previously reported Trump campaign staffers had a physical altercation with an Arlington National Cemetery staffer on Monday over the restriction. The Trump campaign was not authorized to film or photograph in Section 60, federal law prohibits the use of military cemeteries for campaign events and two campaign staffers got in a physical and verbal altercation with the Arlington staffer that tried to prevent the filming. [….]

[….] and using their deaths like Alford has done multiple times in the past 2 days is the most disgraceful of all. Shame on all those politicians using this. Shame on Alford. Shame on Trump !!

The suicide bomber who killed them was one of the 5000 prisoners Trump agreed to release in his negotiations with the Taliban. Put the blame where it belongs, on Trump. Also dumbass, has Trump reached out to the families of any of our military members that died when he was in office? No he hasn’t. Biden was at Andrews AFB when their bodies where returned home and he gave his condolences to the families either in person or via phone.

Sharing this kind of trash , is making you look less as a congressman , trump and Vance violated laws and made a mockery of our fallen soldiers

Using deaths of service members to score political points is the most disgusting act a member of Congress could ever do and that is who you are

You using the death of soldiers for political gain is one of the most pathetic things you have done. Trump giving a thumbs up over a soldier’s gravesite is right there with you. [….]

You politicize veteran’s deaths? Congressman Mark Alford you are a disgrace![….]

Trump used Arlington for a photo op. How disgusting. A thumbs up at a GRAVE? [….]