Ebarnacle - as you say, a body that dies on land can be recovered and is given a proper burial out of repect and concerns for public health. In 2002 because of technological advances it is possible to recover remains from the Monitor and other ships that you refer to. At the time of the disasters it would have been virtually impossible to do so.

My personal feeling is that if a body can be recovered then it should be occur out of respect to the survivors - land or sea.

Why do we search for airplane wreckages from WWII or other conflicts? Because it helps bring closure. Sure everyone knows that those people on the Arizona or the Monitor perished. IF we can honor the dead, and more importantly remember their deeds for the sake of the survivors, then I feel that efforts should be made.

When we approach subjects with solutions based on tradition alone, we often miss opportunities to do things right.

Ron