Clark cemetery soon under US gov’t agency

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – President Obama is expected to sign soon a law placing the 20-acre Clark cemetery in this freeport, which used to be a US Air Force base, under the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

This, after the US Congress passed the Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012 on Dec. 30.

“It was the last day that it could have been passed. We now have enabling legislation passed by both the US Senate and House. This is truly wonderful news,” Dennis Wright, chairman of the Clark Cemetery Restoration Association, told US expatriates in Angeles City.

The American war veterans residing in Angeles City have been maintaining the Clark cemetery since the US military abandoned its air base here in 1991.

Wright said an agreement on the law would be worked out by the US and Philippine governments to implement it.

Lt. Guy Hilbero, executive officer of the 26th US Cavalry and Philippine Scouts Memorial Regiment based here, said he expects Obama to sign the law “soon.”

“It’s an admission of the responsibility of the US government to maintain the cemetery and provide funds for this,” he told The STAR.