The Battlefield Cross By Ken Riege USAF 1985 - 1993
The Term “Battlefield Cross” or the “Fallen Soldier Battle Cross” or just “Battle Cross” first appeared during the time of the Civil War. Its purpose was to signify that a dead soldier was there and to be gathered and buried during a truce called for that purpose. During that time, those KIA (Killed in Action) were buried in graves in temporary cemeteries near the battlefields, identified by simple wooden plaques. The configuration of the rifle pointed downward with a helmet placed on the rifle stock was a more common sight during WW1 and WW2. This still served as a marker so that the Graves Registration Service personnel could remove the body for burial. It also began to take on a new meaning as a memorial, and while it is called a cross, the memorial itself has no overt religious context. During the Korean War, changes were made in the process of handling KIAs, and instead of interring the service members in temporary military cemeteries, they
were removed to staging sites to be readied for burial. It was during this time, the Battlefield Cross Memorial took on more significance as a way to provide closure for the fallen service members comrades. Below is a picture of the Battlefield Cross at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque located just outside of Kirtland AFB. This was the inspiration for the Battlefield Cross located inside the lobby of the Comfort Suites. Beginning with the Gulf War in 1991 (of which I am a veteran) and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the latest version of the battlefield cross (rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags) became the symbol of loss, of mourning, and closure for the living. On the top right of the next page is a picture of the Battlefield Cross located as you enter the Comfort Suites in Gallup. Many of our guest and local veterans/family members have placed dog tags here to honor their fallen family member, battle buddies, or just to honor a military member. The Comfort Suites provides blank dog tags
Battlefield Cross at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque located just outside of Kirtland AFB 54
October 2019
