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Two German WWII tombstones at a Texas veterans cemetery — each bearing Nazi swastikas — have been removed and replaced with new ones that do not use the symbol. The 1943 gravestones belonging to German prisoners of war Alfred Kafka and Georg Forst at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery featured an Iron Cross with a swastika in the middle, and the phrase, “He died far from his home for the Leader (Führer), people and fatherland.” Cemetary workers removed the stones on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The US Veterans Administration will not replace three tombstones of soldiers who fought for Nazi Germany inscribed with swastikas in its military cemeteries, calling them “historic resources.” A group that advocates for religious freedom in the military on Monday called on the VA to replace two World War II-era POW headstones in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, inscribed with swastikas inside a German cross, and the phrase, “He died far from his home for the Führer, people, and fatherland.”

Tombstone mystery in drug case San Bernardino County Sheriff's investigators are left with a mystery following the discovery of 24 cemetery headstones in the backyard of a Loma Linda home they were searching for evidence in a drug case Tuesday. One of the headstones was tentatively traced to Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said. But a spokeswoman for the cemetery's parent company said workmen found a headstone in place on the grave in question. Lisa Marshall, spokeswoman for Service Corporation International, said no markers were reported missing and that the company is cooperating with investigators. Deputies...

There are those who think that for too long the dead have been stuck in the past, and that it is time we allowed them to enter the future. So a team of designers has developed a Blue-tooth-enabled grave stone that will allow friends and relatives to really get in touch with the life that was uncle Joe, aunt Sue, brother Mike or even Ma and Pa Kettle. Those silent moments at grave sites are going to be a lot more enjoyable, as we will now be able to relive the moments that were truly memorable. Thanks to the...

KOFU -- A gravestone manufacturer here is helping bereaved families remember their loved ones with a touch of technology -- mobile phone QR codes on tombstones that link to photographs and video clips of the deceased. The tombstones are being sold by stone processing company Ishinokoe. Behind doors on the tombstone that can be locked is a QR code -- a square code read by mobile phones that can link to Web addresses. Grave visitors can use the code to access images and photographs of the person while they were alive.

The solar-powered Vidstone will play a video of the person's life at the touch of a button. It will not have speakers but a jack to plug in headphones at cemeteries.

FBI investigates allegations of false Boy Scout numbers Thursday, December 30, 2004 The FBI is investigating the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America to see if membership numbers have been inflated, board members said Wednesday.Exaggerating membership numbers could lead to greater financial support, board members said.The council is said to serve 50,000 youngsters in 22 counties in central and northern Alabama. This includes 30,000 enrolled in traditional scout units and 20,000 elementary school students receiving in-class character education using resources provided by the Boy Scouts, said Randy Haines, vice chairman of the council, which is led...

<p>Pivoting his body with his right arm and holding a neon-green ruler in his left hand, James Milam, 10, crawled from grave to grave at Nashville National Cemetery yesterday morning, carefully placing an American flag exactly one foot from each gravestone.</p> <p>The energetic fourth-grader took the task seriously.</p>

Sunday, 05/25/03 Cub Scout crawls grave to grave, honoring the dead By HOLLY EDWARDSStaff Writer10-year-old ditches wheelchair to plant flags in front of headstonesPivoting his body with his right arm and holding a neon-green ruler in his left hand, James Milam, 10, crawled from grave to grave at Nashville National Cemetery yesterday morning, carefully placing an American flag exactly one foot from each gravestone.The energetic fourth-grader took the task seriously.''I don't think that's straight at all,'' he said, holding the ruler to a flag and making a minor adjustment. ''There, that's better.''With that pronouncement, James swung back into his...

ROME (AP) — Dozens of Jewish graves were desecrated in a nighttime rampage through a Rome cemetery in Italy's latest display of anti-Semitism, prompting condemnation Thursday from politicians and Jewish leaders. The culprits smashed parts of headstones, ripped off marble Star of David decorations and tore off parts of gravestones bearing Hebrew writing in the Jewish section of the Verano cemetery. At least one coffin was partially ripped open. In all, 34 graves were damaged. The desecration, which happened after the cemetery closed Wednesday, was discovered Thursday by a visitor. The vandalism, Deputy Premier Gianfranco Fini said, ``is an infamy...