US

Disturbing Report: US Air Force Dumped Ashes of at Least 274 Service Members Into Virginia Landfill

Air Force Dumps Cremated Remains into Virginia Landfill

In what is being hailed a national disgrace, the Air Force has dumped the ashes of at least 274 service members into a Virginia landfill. Records produced by the Air Force and published in The Washington Post, showed that 976 fragments from 274 military personnel were cremated, incinerated and taken to the landfill between 2004 and 2008.

If that were not heartrending enough, the Air Force confirmed 1,762 additional unidentified remains were collected from the battlefield and disposed of in the very same manner. According to the Post, those fragments had been too badly burned in explosions to undergo DNA testing, pushing the total number of cremated fragments dumped in the landfill above 2,700. Records reveal the extent of the dumping was far worse than what the military had previously acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Darrell D. Jones, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for personnel, said there was no intent to deceive. “Absolutely not,” he said.

The Post adds:

The Air Force said it first cremated the remains and then included those ashes in larger loads of mortuary medical waste that were burned in an incinerator and taken to a landfill. Incinerating medical waste is a common disposal practice but including cremated human ashes is not, according to funeral home directors, regulators and waste haulers.

Air Force officials said they do not know when the landfill disposals began. They said their first record of it is Feb. 23, 2004. The mortuary database became operational in late 2003.

The Air Force said mortuary leaders decided to end the practice in May 2008 because “there was a better way to do it,” Jones said. The military now cremates unclaimed and unidentified body parts and buries the ashes at sea.

To further the indignity, separate federal investigation of the mortuary last month revealed “gross mismanagement” and documented how recovered body parts were stacked in the morgue’s coolers for months and even years before being identified and disposed of.

The landfill dumping was hidden from fallen soldiers‘ families who had authorized the military to dispose of their loved ones’ remains in a dignified manner, Air Force officials said. But The Post adds:

Jones said the Air Force did not need to inform relatives of troops whose remains ended up in the landfill because they had already signed forms stipulating that they did not wish to be notified if additional remains were identified. The forms authorized the military to make “appropriate disposition” of those subsequent remains.

Asked if the landfill was a dignified final resting place, Jones replied: “The way we’re doing it today is much better.”

To read the full, disturbing report, please click here.

Comments (153)

  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:23pm

    And they did it to their own??? All is loat folks when our own military cares so little for American servicemen and women!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • BONETRAUMA
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:19pm

    TXN4Justice,

    Thats what I would also say! fword USAF

    Report Post »  
  • last frontier
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:14pm

    Treated the same way LA. treated 1639 unclaimed bodies on Wednesday dumped them in a mass grave.

    Report Post » last frontier  
    • Sheepdog911
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:43pm

      Sorry Last, but this was the Air Force -service members, not LA homeless.

      Report Post » Sheepdog911  
    • Modawg734Blue
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:52pm

      A mass grave for unidentified remains is not disrespectful, being taken to the dump is. The Officer, or Officers responsible for this should loose their commission. These brave soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. There is over 70 years of service from my immediate family; the disrespect turns my stomach.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:59pm

      Is there ANYTHING left in this country that has not been defiled? If you can think of one, would you please tell us?

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:53pm

      Aim Low, go Air Force!

      Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:36am

      It wasn’t services members it was the ashes of fragmented parts of service members. When there are parts everywhere who knows with part goes where who even knows if its part of a service member part of a suicide bomber or part of a civilian caught in the middle of it. The real questioned is were the actual service members honored with ceremonies and traditional military funerals.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:54am

      It sounds to me like alot of people are making a stink over not alot of substance. The article clearly states that these were only body parts and not entire service members bodies. In any case, I am sure that the Air Force and every other branch does its’ best to ensure that the body of each service member is accounted for and treated with respect. It also says that these parts belonged or could have belonged to members who had already had a proper funeral and burial with their loved ones. I am pretty sure that if a piece of their loved one’s shin was found burnt to a crisp, they would not want to have to dig up the majority of his/her remains and add it to the casket. Remember, we are talking about body fragments that cannot be distinguished through any other means than DNA testing here.

      I’ll agree that the landfill is not as dignified as the current burial at sea of the ashes, but currently there are infants ripped from the womb daily that are murdered “legally” by their own mothers and they go into the landfill in red bags on a daily basis nationwide. How is it that anyone here can get so mad that a part of a person who has already been mourned and buried is cremated and thrown out when everyday we throw away lives without ANY mourning or respect?

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • uzi4u2
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:34am

      The bodies that were unclaimed in LA were probably of the homeless. I hope they were treated respectfully in their burying, but these are the ones that end up in “Potter Field” type places
      I get the understanding that the USAF wasn’t throwing away whole bodies but recovered parts, like feet, hands, arms and legs maybe? I HOPE that is the case. In true miltary fashion though, they made the statement that the families signed a paper saying it was ok. If it’s just “parts” then it’s bad but not that bad. If it’s whole remains, then it‘s head loppin’ time.

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:41am

      The former administration was trying to conserve taxpayer dollars. Since the Air Force knew our Vice President and President believed in supporting all Generals 100%, they discreetly performed a money-saving economic service to the country, (and the still unformed TEA Party) with this Landfill solution.

      Dover only STOPPED the simple, cheap landfill solution when they saw a DemonRat Big Gum-mint administration appear after O’Bummer was elected. Today they pay good money to avoid Landfills.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Cesium
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 3:57pm

      If the families authorized it. Depends how looked at. They’re all being buried together with their fraternity.

      Report Post »  
  • Rene
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:14pm

    Human life no longer has any value in America. They could have at least given them a respectful burial, a lttle place with a plaque of rememberance.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:28pm

      I agree .. this is so disgusting .. no way to treat the remains.

      Report Post »  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:29pm

      You would think that they could. These brave people gave their life for us. I don’t even know what to say. I never expected to live in a country where this would even be a possibility.

      Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:36am

      Let’s analyze with honesty here. These were unidentified and/or unidentifiable remains, or remains that the respective families didn’t want to be notified about. Every last one of the dead service men was memorialized somewhere by their respective families, whether the bodies were there or not. It’s just dead tissue. Was The USAF supposed to have a little funeral for every one of the thousands of remains? Huge waste of time and $$$. The county’s broke, remember? The deceased don’t care. They either have new mansions (as opposed to tabernacles) or they’re in eternal torment. This is not that big of a deal.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 1:11am

      to POUNCING PORCUPINE

      I speculate you have never served in the military to protect your country. I also suspect you have never lost a loved on for doing the same. Your callous attitude clearly demonstrates your position.

      Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:46am

      Usually any more few things shock me, until now. I am so angry. This is a disgrace. This is very disturbing. What is happening to our country?

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • dpselfe
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 5:55am

      @ Pouncing Porcupine In answer to your question: “Was The USAF supposed to have a little funeral for every one of the thousands of remains?” The short naswer: YES. Would it be a waste of money as you suggest? Well, I’d only ask you: What was the value of their individual lives to those who knew them?

      Report Post » dpselfe  
    • Dieselmsn
      Posted on December 19, 2011 at 5:08pm

      Exactly , just like the tomb of the unknoewn soldiers.

      Report Post »  
  • BONETRAUMA
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:13pm

    Declare this land fill a national cemetary and honor our fallen warriors with the dignity they deserve.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:01am

      Just a small two or three acre tract somewhere, anywhere would suffice….. Or four or five acres in the hills of Virginia or Maryland… Surely if we can bail out the world we can do this for our troops…. How do you think our living breathing troops feel about the possibility of being thrown in a dumpster ???? More demoralization from this thief in chief…. Reagan is rolling over …along with Washington , Jefferson, Lincoln and yes JFK………. Hard to believe this happened .

      Report Post »  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:29am

      By this thief in chief, I assume you mean Bush jnr because this happened on his watch and has since been stopped

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:11am

      These were body parts that were small burned. They could only be identified through DNA analysis. The vast majority of the members’ bodies were already properly buried and given respectful ceremonies. Do you really think that bringing the scraps of a person to their loved one so that they can dig up their grave just to add a pound of missing meat or ounces of ash is necessary? I wouldn’t have wanted that for my wife or mother to deal with had I been killed in Iraq. These are pieces of people, not the people themselves that we are talking about. The dump is where a service member’s amputated leg would go after cremation, so why do you all look so down on this? Seriously, if you lost a limb, would you bury it with a grave marker or would you simply discard it because it is only a piece of you and not you, a person with a soul, memories, and loved ones? For me that answer is simple. And as far as the USAF changing its’ policy so that it dumps the ashes of these remnants at sea, that is more respect than I would expect my lost remnants to receive and a damn fine gesture.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • BONETRAUMA
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:11pm

    Such a disgrace. Our families have fought for this Nation given their sons for our freedom. And, thats the respect we show our Heros?

    Simply DISGUSTING. Thank you USAF.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:19am

      @ survivorseed
      No, by thief in chief I meant Obama….. Since he and his Chicago thugs have looted the treasury…

      Report Post »  
  • Ookspay
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:09pm

    Every effort and expense must be incurred to recover these sacred remains, and inter them with the honor and respect befitting an American Servicemen.

    Every person within the chain of command who carried out this atrocity must be court martialed and held accountable.

    This is outrageous and disgraceful.

    Report Post » Ookspay  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:03pm

      I agree. who allowed this to happen to our fallen heroes to treat them like trash? Oh my God this makes me so mad and sad at the same time What has happened to this country?

      Report Post »  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:19am

      Ookspay,

      I most respectfully disagree.

      The families of the soldiers signed forms that stated they specifically did NOT want any additional body parts that were identified. These families have already said good bye to their loved ones. The remains did not have enough DNA to identify them and they were cremated with other medical waste. Horrifying? Yes. Undoubtably. But it was done, right, wrong or otherwise.

      Those cremains are now mixed in with God alone knows what and they are probably indistinguishable from regular ash. These are not skulls, bones and teeth. They are fragments of bone and ash flakes of former tissue. This was three years ago. Horrible as it is, leave it lie. No one will benefit from trying to exhume the cremains, if you could at all.

      Handling the matter in this manner was totally wrong and should never have been done, but that water over the dam has long since passed into the sea. The burial at sea after cremation is much better.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 8:30am

      @Taquoshi, You assume that they are just piles of ashes just mixed in with rubbish. Perhaps they are still in containers of some kind. At the very least investigate, and then make a decision on if and how to proceed with recovery. I am sure when the family members signed off on the remains they had no idea this would be the result.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:20am

      These are not whole service members. They are small unidentifiable remains of members and or civilians who met an untimely end. The majority of their remains (the identifiable remains) were already taken and presented to their respective families for proper burial and memorial. The remaining fragments I am fine with being treated as medical waste. Think about this, how many service members have lost their limbs in combat. Now, how many of these members do you think had a burial and memorial service for the pieces of their limbs that were later identified or even found immediately? I’d venture to say that number is close to nil. This is because a person’s leg is not the person himself. The pieces that we are now discussing are fragments of bone, muscle, and skin and do not even come close to the size of an entire limb. So why are you making this into such a big deal?

      I know that you want to do everything you can to honor fallen service members, but don’t confuse honoring a service member with treating scraps of their remains as sacrosanct. The best way to honor them is to take full advantage of the rights that they fought to protect on your behalf and remember their sacrifices. But I agree that the burial at see is a nice though unnecessary gesture.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • ShadowmaSSofSC
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:08pm

    We’re all going to Hell.

    Report Post »  
    • lodgerat
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:38pm

      Amen..someone saw it and let it happen

      Report Post » lodgerat  
    • netmail
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:09am

      Let’s see…what seems most logical : A mass burial at sea with a respectful memorial acknowledging service and sacrifice or a quick trip to the dump?? Yep, we’re going to hell alright. PUNISH the perps of this national disgrace!!!

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:44am

      They were trying to conserve Tax payer dollars. Dover knew Bush/Cheney would not mind, but did not dare continue after they left office.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • valleyfever
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:07pm

    This kind of stuff makes me want to vomit. No matter who signed what, whatever remains of fallen or injured vets must be interred with highest honor. Remember with respect those who paid the highest price for our freedom. The idiots who allowed this to happen should be fired now.

    Report Post »  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:04pm

    I can understand the impossibility of identifying every fragment and the need for cremation of these fragments. The families had signed waivers pertaining to their disposal, however, there was no need to put them in a landfill (dump). They deserved better.

    Report Post »  
    • KangarooJack
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:08pm

      Amen.

      Many a town would gladly set aside a site for a park to put up a Monument to HONOR these soldiers!

      Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:15pm

      I gave a more proper burial to my dead pets than that. I wouldn’t dump a dead dog or cat in a landfill. And they dumped dead soldiers in one? I do not care if only unidentifiable body parts are found. RESPECT is called for. You bury the parts and pray over them. Those are body parts of brave people that died in their efforts to keep us safe. God knows who’s parts they are and he can sort them out. I thought I had heard it all. I guess not. This is unbelievable.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:25am

      Who here thinks that a soldier’s amputated leg gets a burial or dignified service? Because what we are talking about is pieces 1/10 that size or smaller that are burned and unidentifiable. I find it strange that as a culture we are fine with simply burning and taking amputated limbs to the landfill, but for such small and already burned scraps we find it so abhorrent. I really don’t get it. Although I think that the burial at sea is a nice gesture, what currently happens to every aborted child in America?

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • SGT SMOKE
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:03pm

    Wow as a service member who has been deployed 5 times,,,,,,this is really freaking disturbing….i better not find my soldiers remains in that list…..

    SGT SMOKE  
    • SGT SMOKE
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:09pm

      i meant on that list not in that list

      Report Post » SGT SMOKE  
    • Coyote6
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:11pm

      Thank you for your service Sgt. Smoke. Five deployments. Wow! This thing with the ashes of servicemembers is very disturbing. Come on DOD, get it right.

      Report Post » Coyote6  
    • SGT SMOKE
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 6:53am

      MODAWG, yes this really disturbs me….i have lost soldiers due to this war….obviously we are not able to attend funerals or watch what happens with the bodies of our fallen brothers and sisters, but to be dumped in a trash heap is very disturbing….we deserve better than this….

      Report Post » SGT SMOKE  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:33am

      These were not the entire bodies of service members. If you read it as such I cannot blame you because the shocking headline seems to want to portray it in that light. What was cremated and taken to the dump were small fragments that were burned and unidentifiable. As regrettable as it is that these small pieces will never rest at the member’s proper burial site, the fragments were treated no differently than the remnants of an amputated or mutilated limb of a surviving member of our armed forces. The burial at sea is a nice touch, but it is inconsistent with the way we treat any other body parts in our society.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • Fight for America
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:03pm

    Idiots.

    Report Post »  
  • getourcountryback
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:00pm

    Isn’t that what we have a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for? What in God’s name are they thinking? Whoever is responsible for this needs to be dismissed with a dishonorable discharge. Shame on them!

    Report Post »  
  • Miami
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:00pm

    Today of all days,

    When the Commander & Chief has declared war on American Dream with his class warfare speech.

    Report Post » Miami  
  • mgamga022889
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:00pm

    As the mother of three (3) active miitary members I am shocked and speechless. Our own military
    Would disgrace those who protect us everyday. God help us! Stand up and demand
    Action and dignity for our beloved military. If we don’t stand up for them, how can we ask
    Them to stand up for us.

    Report Post »  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:24pm

      I don’t cry often but this story did it. Three kids in service. Good job Mom, you have raised some strong USA loving kids. I pray God’s protection over them and for you as you wait for them to come home. I thank you for your good parenting and your kids for their service. God Bless.

      Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:00pm

    This is a damn shame for remains of our service members to be so callously disposed of,It‘s like we’re living in the twilight zone.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 2:39pm

      Get with the program, that was the way Rumsfeld rolled! Effective, Efficient, Businesslike, CHEAP!

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • ProfessorClyde
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:53pm

    What a disgrace, who ever is responsible has to be terminated

    Report Post » ProfessorClyde  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:57pm

      And… by Terminated… you mean…

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • jcannon98188
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:03pm

      Fired. Obviously.

      Report Post »  
    • watashbuddyfriend
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:37pm

      NO, ProfessorClyde
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:53pm

      “What a disgrace, who ever is responsible has to be terminated.” BUT, cremated!

      Report Post »  
  • AmericanPatriot4God
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:51pm

    This is disgusting and disgrace. You know what you do? You set up a war memorial park. Bury their ashes there and tell the stories of these men and women for what they gave for this country. Make it another tourist area, make money for charity. People need to be fired for this. How they forget when they focus on themselves. This administration, these military “leaders,” these know nothing do as little as possible without making a decision government employee people need to all be fired, lets send them to Mexico if they like letting Mexico in here.

    Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:57pm

      yes I totally agree. what human being thinks it is a good idea to send our warriors remains to the landfill? I wouldn’t even treat my dog in this way. God help our nation, each day I glance at the news my heart breaks for us as a country.

      Report Post »  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:04pm

      Yes! I like your idea.

      Report Post »  
  • JesusFreak490
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:51pm

    Our brave servicemen deserve so much better than that. This is disgraceful!

    Report Post »  
    • Mimi24
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:39pm

      Yes they do and it is a disgrace. I am so ashamed of my country .My prayers and my apologies go up for the fallen soldiers that were treated so disgracefully. God saw what you did, even if your country did not.

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:51pm

    Why would a family ask the military to dispose of their “loved ones ” remains?

    Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:22pm

      When you are blown up, not all remains may be recovered at the same time. Some remains may be discovered later on the battlefield or with parts that have not been identified. It was these the families said not to be notified. What disturbed me was that some soldiers were not claimed; was this due to not finding a relative or they did not list anyone to contact? It is a shame they chose a land fill to dump the ashes; at minimum they could have been used for fertilizer around the planting beds on base. Of course, the burial at sea works better and seems more dignified.

      When I cremated my Golden Retriever, I spread his ashes at Lake Mead where he played and romped when we went there.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Dinkiecb
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:25pm

      because the family‘s don’t have the money …

      Report Post »  
    • Modawg734Blue
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:29am

      BECAUSE, it is part of the debt society owes to those who wear a uniform. Do you understand the military payscale. Poverty wages for putting your AS$ on the line. Most service members are young, many have families. It is the least a nation can do to show the proper respect for someone who volunteered. Sorry, but the thought of service members being thrown away after making the ultimate sacrifice, chaps my A$$.

      Report Post »  
  • Miami
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:50pm

    This is the respect this administration has for our Military Servicemen

    Report Post » Miami  
    • tersky
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:08pm

      “…976 fragments from 274 military personnel were cremated, incinerated and taken to the landfill between 2004 and 2008….”

      Sadly, this is not something we can blame on 0bama. Frankly, it‘s not Bush’s fault either. This is probably the fault of a bunch of lazy paper-pushers who never let on to their higher-ups that they were doing this.

      Report Post »  
    • Miami
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:51pm

      Fragments or not, they are still our Military Servicemen and under reasonable leadership this should never happen. This is the same administration that used the returning soldiers’ caskets as props for a photo op.
      A candidate who refused to wear a flag pin.
      A wife who was never proud of this country till her husband won a primary.
      A president elect that vowed to transform this nation and seriously flawed constitution.
      A President’s council ( Valerie Jarrett ) who treated Vice Chief of Staff of Army as a waiter.
      A President who toured the world as the apologist & Chief, blaming this nation for the all the world’s woos.
      A man who has long disputed American Greatness who continues blame its laziness, attacking the successful and has his minions accuse all who question him of racism.

      Funny this hadn’t happened before

      Report Post » Miami  
    • Modawg734Blue
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:16am

      Miami, Look at the dates. I dislike O, as much as anyone, but this did not happen on his watch.

      Report Post »  
    • Miami
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:26am

      You’re right.

      Bush was no great leader either..

      Report Post » Miami  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:50pm

    This is sickening

    Report Post »  
  • drago
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:47pm

    Thrown out like common waste, all who know of this practice, and carried it out, need to die.This is a total disgrace….

    Report Post »  
    • dealer@678
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:57pm

      The remains should have been buried in a special location at Arlington National Cemetary

      Report Post »  
  • The Eleventh Doctor
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:46pm

    I expected better from America’s Air Force. This is upsetting news.

    Report Post » The Eleventh Doctor  
    • Shasta
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:53pm

      I am reading more stories about the top military brass making progressive-like decisions. They are starting to resemble Colin Powell, which is a real shame.

      Report Post » Shasta  
  • txn4justice
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:45pm

    Very sad.

    Report Post »  

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