WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to identify and research Jewish-American servicemembers interred in American cemeteries overseas who are buried beneath grave markers that do not accurately reflect their religion and heritage. The bipartisan Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act would create a 10-year program within the American Battle Monuments Commission to identify and conduct research on servicemembers who are incorrectly memorialized and locate and contact their surviving descendants to facilitate a grave marker change to properly represent their religious heritage. An estimated 600 Jewish-American servicemembers who were killed in action during World War II remain buried under Latin Crosses rather than Stars of David. While clerical errors are to blame for many of the improper burials, some are because Jewish-American servicemembers did not want their faith included on their dog tags while fighting against the Nazis.
“Our nation has a duty to fully honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to join Senator Moran in introducing this bipartisan legislation to correct the headstones of servicemembers by ensuring that the religious affiliation of our fallen is properly and accurately recognized.”
“We owe a debt we can never repay to those who have given their last full measure of devotion on behalf of our nation and the freedoms we cherish, religious liberty being chief among them,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation makes certain that the religious heritage of those who have died for our country, particularly Jewish-American servicemembers, is rightfully represented at their final resting places, providing their survivors with assurance that their loved one’s faith is being acknowledged and memorialized with accuracy.”
Senator Rosen has been working to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. She has sent letters demanding that the VA reverse harmful plans to reduce its workforce, calling on the VA to permanently reverse layoffs, and pushing for answers regarding mass employee terminations at the VA. Last month, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation to reinstate veterans wrongfully fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. She also took to the Senate floor to oppose the actions of the Trump Administration and Musk to mass fire employees working at the VA.
###
