Ft. Bliss cemetery graves damaged due to recent storms

Recent heavy rain storms have damaged dozens of graves and headstones at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

Some veterans say the majority of the damage to the graveyard is because of the gravel landscaping compared to the original grass.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs stripped the grass and replaced it with gravel to stop using excess amounts of water.

The cemetery also received Texas’ top Environmental Excellence Award in the water conservation category back in 2013. But one veteran, Frank Winslett, said the change to xeriscaped grounds is disrespectful.

“They raised their hand for two, three, five, 10 years and said, “I do solemnly swear,” Winslett said. “And guess what? They did, and they don’t deserve this.”

But a foreman at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery said there have been poorer conditions in the past.

“I’ve been here for 12-plus years and I was here when we had grass, or what we called grass,” the foreman said. “And we had more damage to the sunk graves then than we do now.”

A group called Honoramus Veteranos is working to get rid of the xeriscaped grounds and have natural grass be implemented back the cemetery.

No action has been taken, but when ABC-7 spoke with members of the organization, they said they are close to making a final resolution.

The foreman also said the damaged graves and tombstones are expected to be restored by no later than the end of November.