Virginia Confederate memorial to be removed despite Republicans’ objection

Monument in Arlington National Cemetery to be dismantled despite letter signed by more than 40 Republican congressmen

A Confederate memorial is to be removed from Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia in the coming days, part of the push to remove symbols that commemorate the Confederacy from military-related facilities, a cemetery official said on Saturday.

The decision ignores a recent demand from more than 40 Republican congressmen that the Pentagon suspend efforts to dismantle and remove the monument from Arlington cemetery.