A Veteran’s Outcry: Erasing History at Arlington National Cemetery
As a U.S. Army veteran with fifteen years of service from 1992 to 2007, I am compelled to express my profound disappointment and anger regarding recent actions taken by the Department of Defense (DOD) under the leadership of Secretary Pete Hegseth. The removal of Medgar Evers – a World War II veteran and a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement – from the Arlington National Cemetery website is not simply an oversight; it is a deliberate act of historical revisionism, an affront to his memory, and a betrayal of the values we swore to uphold as service members.
Medgar Evers was not just a soldier; he was a symbol of courage and resilience. After honorably serving his country during World War II, he returned to a deeply segregated Mississippi, where he dedicated his life to fighting for the civil rights of African Americans. His tireless efforts to dismantle systemic racism and secure equal opportunities for his community made him a target. In 1963, he was assassinated by a white supremacist, a tragic event that galvanized the nation and became a turning point in the civil rights struggle.
To erase Medgar Evers’ contributions from the historical record is to deny the progress he fought so hard to achieve, a progress that came at the ultimate price. It is a slap in the face to all those who have struggled for equality and justice, both within and outside the military.
The DOD’s initial response to public outcry was to claim that some of the erased content would be reinstated. However, this backtracking does not undo the damage already inflicted. Given this administration’s record of misdirection and questionable actions, it is difficult to accept their explanations at face value. One must question whether they are retreating from these purges due to intense public backlash or whether these actions were the result of gross incompetence and oversight by senior administration officials. Both possibilities are deeply concerning.
My own visit to Medgar Evers’ grave occurred during the height of the "take-a-knee" protests, a movement sparked by NFL star Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful demonstration against racial injustice. Kaepernick’s actions, though protected by the First Amendment, cost him his career. Yet, raising one’s voice in the face of tyranny and oppression is a core American value, one that Medgar Evers exemplified throughout his life.
The notion that Secretary Hegseth would attempt to erase a war hero and civil rights icon like Evers speaks to a deeper problem within this administration. It aligns disturbingly with Hegseth’s broader agenda to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our armed forces. He is willfully disregarding the sacrifices of countless veterans of color by erasing the legacies of Black, Latino, and women service members.
This is not an isolated incident. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jennifer Cannon’s story about reaching 1,000 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle was also removed from DOD websites. The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, whose invaluable contributions were instrumental in Allied victories, were initially purged from Defense Department websites, only to be restored after public outcry. Similarly, content related to the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary Black fighter pilots who played a pivotal role in desegregating the U.S. military, has also been deleted, despite assurances from the DOD that their history would be preserved.
These decisions are not mere administrative oversights; they represent a deliberate and insidious attempt to whitewash our military’s history. The contributions of Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, Asian American, and other minority service members have been integral to our nation’s defense since its inception. To erase or diminish their legacy is to perpetuate the very injustices they fought against, both on the battlefield and at home.
As veterans, we swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and defend the principles of justice and equality. This oath transcends our time in uniform; it is a lifelong commitment. We have a duty to stand against policies that seek to divide and erase, to ensure that the sacrifices and contributions of all our service members are recognized and honored.
Secretary Hegseth’s actions, whether deliberate or disguised as bureaucratic errors, are a profound disservice to the values we hold dear and to the memory of heroes like Medgar Evers. We must remain vigilant and vocal in preserving the true and inclusive history of our armed forces, a history that reflects the diversity and strength of our nation. We must demand accountability from those who seek to rewrite history and ensure that the sacrifices of all our veterans are never forgotten. The fight for equality and justice continues, and we, as veterans, have a responsibility to lead the charge.
