Unclaimed Veterans Buried with Honor and Dignity, Thanks to Strangers
A national effort is underway to pay final respect to members of the military whose bodies were not claimed by relatives.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When the flags were removed from the caskets and folded with military precision, there were no family members there to receive them.
So the banners were passed, hand-to-hand, through the crowd.
Some mourners wept as they clutched the flags briefly. Others kissed them. But the three veterans laid to rest on a rainy Memphis morning were strangers to most of those who gathered to honor their memory.
The service was part of a national effort by funeral homes, medical examiners, state and federal veterans’ affairs departments, and local veterans’ groups to pay final respects to members of the military whose bodies were not claimed by any relatives. Since 2000, Dignity Memorial and other funeral homes in more than 30 cities have organized about 3,000 funerals for soldiers, sailors and Marines who died alone, but still deserved a dignified funeral and burial, said Jeff Berry, Dignity’s general manager in Knoxville.
Army soldiers Arnold M. Klechka, 71, and Wesley Russell, 76, and Marine Charles B. Fox, 60, were laid to rest in a service attended by about 700 people at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Memphis on Thursday. There was a gun salute, and a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.”
But none of them had family members present.
I had no idea this was happening as often as it is. If you know about a local group that participates in this, please forward their information to me. We need to help support and organize this effort nationally.
No veteran should go to his grave, unwept, unhonored, and unsung.
Source: Unclaimed Veterans Buried with Honor and Dignity, Thanks to Strangers | Military.com
Category: Historical, Military issues, Veteran Health Care, Veterans Issues
“But none of them had family members present.”
All three of them did, just not blood relations. I’ll look into this, unless someone knows whether there is a website that publishes these services in advance.
I called Dignity Memorial and to try to learn whether there is a national site where the remains of Veterans who pass with no known family are listed. The nice lady said she knows of none. I asked how folks learn about services such as the one for the three Veterans in Memphis and she had no idea. She did provide two websites but neither is what I was hoping for. One is legacy.com and the other is mem.com
Long story short: I struck out.
If they were ‘only’ children and parents passed, and no known cousins or other relatives, that could explain the lack of ‘family’. But the military IS a ‘family’.
Glad to see this being done this way. Kudos to the people who take care of these things.
This happened in NJ a couple of days ago:
“Strangers Pay Respect At Vietnam Veterans’s Funeral”:
https://abc7news.com/society/strangers-pay-respect-at-vietnam-veterans-funeral/5097679/
“Mourners Turn Out To Honor Vietnam Veteran Who Died Alone With No Family”:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/mourners-turn-out-to-honor-vietnam-veteran-who-died-alone-with-no-amily
There ARE good people out there.
Thanks for sharing, Dave.
I performed military burials for several years and saw 3 or 4 burials where the only people present were the burial detail, the funeral home director and the VA Administrator. This was in one relatively small location in upstate NY – multiply that by the entire US. Sad to see, but I was glad at least we were there to see them off. Thanks, Dave.
I suppose that what should happen is that the VA should post these things. After all, the decedent’s Veteran status has to be confirmed by the funeral parlor, right? Hmmmm. This is beginning to sound like a project.
“This is beginning to sound like a project.” Or sound like a calling. Be honored and proud to help in any way that I can. I read the linkies that Another Pat (welcome home again, left you some love on the Chief Tom Tom thread) had provided, Thanks for that AP (rtr). Those funeral directors indicated that the word got out thru the social media and local news media articles. I’m not on the fake book thing, can lurk around some on sister’s page.
Maybe we could start by contacting our local funeral homes and letting them know we are available? As we have Delta Whiskey/Whiskettes scattered all over the place, that could be a real good start.
It is sad to think these Veterans left with no one that knew them to mourn their passing. It’s sadder that they may have spent years in their private hell/loneliness and not have someone to reach out to. I draw attention to the Fox News post above. The Vet served in RVN 64-66, divorced in ’80, so that’s almost 40 years. Was he living that time frame in a private hell? Was his divorce related to his service? These are the ones that fall thru the official “we can help you” cracks…Sad.
AP, you and Ex-PH2 can’t be missing in action at the same time anymore. It was obvious over the last week or so that some of us cannot be left unsupervised. Since HMC Ret has already ratted us out, I can now admit that 26Limabeans, 2/17 Air Cav, myself, and others were tracking these threads like puppies on a too long of a leash.
“Maybe we could start by contacting our local funeral homes and letting them know we are available?” Good thought but this is bigger than that. Much bigger. There has to be a way for funeral homes and city morgues who have an unclaimed body to confirm Veteran status. That’s the key, I think. Put Veteran confirmation together with a central site for listing services and there you go. Local newsies can take it from there and good things will follow. I hate to say it, but it really looks like a critter or two may have to get involved, especially if the site will be a .gov site.
True dat, and all of those thoughts went thru my broke brain. The whole National Clearing House thing, and (shudder) getting a .gov critter involved. Maybe we could get old Home Tater that was just elected, hell can’t call his name, the wounded/lost eye that was on the TV with that jerk dickhead? Anyhow, him and several other Vets that were elected in ’18, freshmen critters we could draft. Was wondering how long it takes for a funeral home to get confirmation of a person’s status. Takes us for a FOIA, what 4-8 weeks? Let’s chase this rabbit, hell I got nothing else to do. That brain doc done told me I can’t ever go back to line construction and the company is a fixin to force me to retire. Sucks to be me lately. Damn a stroke!
“Was wondering how long it takes for a funeral home to get confirmation of a person’s status”
While this deals with flags it is noteworthy that a person of good character can vouch for the person in lieu of records.
“E. What documentation is required in order to receive a burial flag? Provide a copy of the veteran’s discharge documents that shows service dates and the character of service, such as DD Form 214, or verification of service from the veteran’s service department or VA. Various information requested, is considered essential to the proper processing of the application. Ensure these areas are completed as fully as possible. Note: If the claimant is unable to provide documentary proof, a flag may be issued when a statement is made by a person of established character and reputation that he/she personally knows the deceased to have been a veteran who meets the eligibility criteria”.
VA FORM 27-2008
Tanks!
Rep Dan Crenshaw!
Thank You, 5th/77th FA!!!
The Field Artillery, the Cavalry, the Signal Corps and Doc all have it under control…under the supervision of a Marine and a Naval Aircrewman…😉
What a great Team…
rtr,goarmybeatnavy,godawgs…
😎🐘🐶
I will ALWAYS be willing to button my uniform up “one more time” to be there for a brother or sister who needs a family member to say goodbye. Gives me another reason to keep down at my ‘fighting weight’, lol.
We have had some of these burials at the North Little Rock Veterans Cemetery and the Patriot Riders and other organizations always ensure a proper send off for our fallen brothers in arms. Great to see others doing the same given all of the bullshit being thrown at our values these days.