Bill Seeks to Correct Improper Burial of Jewish-American Service Members

A bipartisan group of members of Congress and senators has introduced a bill aimed at ensuring Jewish-American service members are buried with grave markers that reflect their religion. The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act is sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran and Jacky Rosen, along with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Max Miller. The legislation seeks to rectify the improper burial of an estimated 600 Jewish-American service members under Latin crosses.

One example is Pvt. David Moser, who served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He fought in several battles in France before being deployed to Germany for training. Tragically, Moser died from the Spanish flu in 1919 at the age of 20 and was initially buried in a civilian cemetery. His remains were later reburied in Arlington National Cemetery in 1920, with a headstone bearing a Latin cross.

Operation Benjamin, a nonprofit organization, recently unveiled new headstones etched with the Star of David for Moser and Pfc. Adolph Hanf, reflecting their Jewish faith. Representative Ritchie Torres shared his experience representing Moser’s niece, who advocated for a Star of David headstone for her uncle. After 105 years, a new headstone was finally unveiled.

Shalom Lamm, co-founder and chief historian of Operation Benjamin, emphasized the importance of providing proper burials for fallen soldiers. The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act would facilitate collaboration between organizations like Operation Benjamin and relevant government agencies. This would enable more efficient research to identify and correct the headstones of Jewish-American soldiers buried under Latin crosses.

The process of changing headstones requires thorough research and a high standard of proof. Operation Benjamin's goal is to complete this important service for soldiers and then conclude its work.