May 25, 2006
Media Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) The chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senator Larry Craig, will be departing our nation's capitol today as he leads a delegation of Committee Members to examine the conditions of U.S. military cemeteries in Belgium, Netherlands, France and the North African nation of Tunisia. The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over those facilities.

Those traveling with Chairman Craig include U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) ? all members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. They will be joined by Brigadier General John W. Nicholson, Ret., Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

VA Secretary Jim Nicholson had been scheduled to participate but will now be staying in the Washington, DC, to deal with the loss of millions of records of military veterans.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, the group will visit Omaha Beach in France and lay a wreath in honor of the over 10,000 American servicemen who gave their lives at Normandy. The delegation will also examine the Pointe du Hoc monument that was erected by the French to honor the American 2nd Ranger Battalion which, in 1944, scaled a 100 foot cliff to take out German gun emplacements.

Pointe du Hoc is currently at risk due to continuing coastal erosion. Since 2001, the observation post has been closed to the public.

• On Tuesday, May 30, at 7 p.m. in France ? (1 p.m. Eastern, 12:00 Central, 11:00 a.m. Mountain, and 10 a.m. Pacific) Senator Craig will take calls from news reporters. Reporters should call Dan Whiting at 202-224-8078 to participate.
• On Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. in Tunisia ? North Africa ? (1 p.m. Eastern, 12:00 Central, 11:00 a.m. Mountain, and 10 a.m. Pacific) Senator Craig will take calls from news reporters. Reporters should call Dan Whiting at 202-224-8078 to participate.

  Members of the public who would like submit questions can do so online by going to http://craig.senate.gov/podchat

  (All times local -- each location is 6 hours ahead of U.S. East Coast time.) 

  Saturday May 27 10:00 Ardennes American Cemetery            Belgium

  -- This cemetery contains the graves of 5,329 of our military dead, many of whom died in the "Battle of the Bulge." Chairman Craig to deliver remarks along with U.S. Ambassador Tom Korologos.

   

   

  Saturday

   

  -- This cemetery contains the graves of 7,992 Americans, of those are 106 unknowns. In no less than 40 instances two brothers lie buried side by side. Chairman Craig to deliver remarks

  Sunday

   

  -- This cemetery contains the graves of 8,301 American military dead. Chairman Craig to deliver remarks.

  Monday

  2:00 Normandy American Cemetery 

   

  -- This cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 American military dead. Also listed are the names of 1,557 missing who gave their lives, but whose remains were not located or identified. Delegation to lay wreath. May 29 11:00 Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument          France May 28 3:00 Netherlands American Cemetery             NetherlandsMay 27 4:00 Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery     Belgium

  Tuesday May 30 10:45 Suresnes American Cemetery              France

  -- Originally a WWI cemetery, it contains the graves of 1,541 Americans from World War I and twenty-four graves of American unknown dead from World War II.

   

  Wednesday

   

  -- Memorial commemorates the WWI Battle of Belleau Wood, which stemmed the tide of the German attack.  In 1918, U.S. Marine Corps casualties were then the highest in Marine Corps history ? 9,777 casualties, of which 1,811 were fatal.

  Friday

   

  -- The World War II North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial is located near the site of the ancient city of Carthage, which was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. At this cemetery rest 2,841 American military dead who gave their lives during WWII. It is the only U.S. military cemetery on the African continent. June 2 9:00 North Africa American Cemetery           Tunisia May 31 10:30 Belleau Wood Memorial                  France

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