The remains of two U.S. Navy sailors, recovered in 2002 from the wreck of the service's first ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, the Navy said Tuesday.
"These may very well be the last Navy personnel from the Civil War to be buried at Arlington," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement. "It's important we honor these brave men and all they represent as we reflect upon the significant role Monitor and her crew had in setting the course for our modern Navy."
The Monitor sank during a storm on New Year's Eve 1862 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with a loss of 16 sailors.
The wreck was discovered in 1974, but the remains that will going to Arlington were found in 2002 when a salvage team attempted to recover the ship's gun turret.
The remains will be interred at Arlington on March 8, the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. It was the first clash between ironclads as the Monitor fought the Confederate ship CSS Virginia, earlier known as the Merrimack.
The Navy was unable to identify the specific sailors who will be interred at Arlington, but the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii was able to narrow their possible descendants down to 22 individuals from 10 families, the Navy said.
I thank them for their service and sacrifice.
I also apologize for thinking they look like twins at a Star Trek convention.
Who are kissing something.
Raven: that is illocical. Lol.
Scott: what is UP with that??
RIP. Finally.
That would be the CSS Virginia, formerly the USS Merrimack.
Rest in peace. You served your nation with distinction.
thanks for keeping the country together. Fair Winds and following seas.
Actually, it was a waste because the country should have been divided into 2 different territories at least. Things would be a lot better today if so.
Keeping it together for what? We're just as divided as a nation as ever. Black and white/Red and Blue. The north and south hate each other just as much. Nothing has changed.
If the nation had divided for good... a 20th century C.S.A. would have probably sided with Nazi Germany... maybe a different result there
@AmmoPapa – You've read too much Harry Turtledove
Rest in peace, gentlemen. Thank you for your service.
Be blessed for your service-my deepest–symathy 2 who grieve your lost
I'm sure if they were confederate soldiers they'd just be thrown in a dumpster somewhere, eh?
Absolutely not. Are you a child? All human remains are treated with dignity and respect.
Since they don't know who these guys are...couldn't they put one or both in the tomb of the unknown... replace that empty spot where the Viet Nam vet was
Nice touch having their skulls there. Isn't that a bit disrespectful?
Brad Lendon, do you ever proof read your work before posting\publishing? Just a question.
The USS MONITOR shipwreck was discovered in 1973 (not 1974) by a team of scientists from Duke University, MIT, University of Delaware, and the state of North Carolina.
Thank you, Professor Newton, for your correction.
Wow Prof...you are really smart (and really bored)