Gates, top military brass to attend Murtha’s funeral

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http://thehill.com/homenews/house/81065-gates-top-military-brass-to-attend-murthas-funeral

Gates, top military brass to attend Murtha’s funeral
By Roxana Tiron - 02/15/10 07:02 AM ET


Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the top military service leaders will travel to Pennsylvania Tuesday for Rep. John Murtha’s funeral.

Gates is expected to attend the services in Johnstown, Pa., together with Army Chief of Staff George Casey and Army Secretary John McHugh; Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead; the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Conway and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.

Murtha (D-Pa.) died on Feb. 8 after complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

As the powerful Chairman of House Appropriations Defense Committee, Murtha’s decisions have had a large impact on all the military services for years.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), one of Murtha’s closest allies and friends in Congress, is expected to lead a large congressional delegation to the funeral.

Murtha, a former Marine Corps drill sergeant, was the first Vietnam War veteran to serve in Congress. His family decided against a burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

A memorial service for Murtha will also take place in Washington towards the end of the month.