Nashville National Cemetery Wall Down
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What began as a series of traffic accidents seven months ago is starting to feel like disrespect to family members, whose loved ones are buried at the Nashville National Cemetery on Gallatin Road.
The problem is the wall lining the cemetery has been destroyed. There is crime tape and car parts scattered about. That debris and destruction are only a few feet away from headstones.
According to Metro Police, there were actually two wrecks at this section of wall, two weeks apart.
The first wreck on June 2nd started as a tire blowout, according to Metro Police. The Driver was cited for not having a license.
Investigators tell Messed Up the 2nd wreck on June 15th hit the same stretch of wall. The driver was a 17 year old mentally challenged teen who also was not licensed to drive.
Kim Mahone’s grandparents are buried here. She says it’s disrespectful to not repair the damage next to her grandparents’ grave.
“The whole brick wall in front of her grave is knocked down. Bumper and bricks and pieces of head light have been laying there for a while. We try calling and ask when will they fix it. I went up to the office. I get up there and they are busy, I am doing this for everyone’s family. Those people fought in the war. It’s an invasion of privacy.”
Mahone says she just wants the wall repaired. 7 months is long enough she says.
“We are upset!”
We contact regional director, Paul Martin, who tells us his agency is working on the issue, but there is no time table for repairs.
By phone Martin tells Messed Up:
“Of course we care about what happens in the cemetery and how it affects the next of kin of our soldiers. This all takes considerable time. The wall is old, and so we want to be sure to get the right materials.”
Martin tells us that the federally subsidized cemetery has a budget that allows for upkeep, but not necessarily for destruction of this magnitude.
Martin wants families to know that the cemetery is working with the parks service to address the issue and is not taking this issue lightly.
Hello Andy:
Thank you for putting the spotlight on the National Cemetery Wall here on Gallatin Road. For readers general information: The Federal Government surely has a claim in process with the insurance companies or the individuals involved in the two accidents which debilitated the wall.
While insurance claims can sometimes be solved quickly, one of this nature could take a while longer than most individual claims. The government will have to complile their best estimate to repair the wall which will most likely include the cost and being able to locate similar stone, labor hours to repair, etc.
I do understand the frustration of the families of the resting soldiers and those spouses buried with their loved soldiers. This frustrates me as well, but as a government employee and former insurance company employ, I know why it is taking so long.
Let’s all hope this wall is repaired and the claim settled quickly for the diginity of those buried there.
Thanks for your continued GOOD Work!