FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Murray
202-224-2834
Thursday, May 17,
2012
Burr 202-228-1616
VETERANS: Murray, Burr Introduce Bill to Ensure
Dignified Burials
Comes after veteran’s remains
were discovered to have been buried in cardboard box
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator
Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
(R-NC), Ranking Member, introduced legislation to help ensure every veteran
receives a dignified burial. The Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012 would authorize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a casket
or urn to a deceased veteran when VA is unable to identify the veteran’s
next-of-kin and determines that sufficient resources are not otherwise available
to furnish a casket or urn for burial in a national cemetery. This bill would
further require that VA report back to Congress on the industry standard for
urns and caskets and whether burials at VA’s national cemeteries are meeting
that standard. Under current law, VA is not authorized to purchase a casket or
urn for veterans who do not have a next-of-kin to provide one, or the resources
to be buried in an appropriate manner.
Chairman Murray and Ranking Member
Burr, joined by U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL),
introduced this legislation after a veteran, with no known next-of-kin, was
buried in a cardboard container at a
VA National Cemetery in Florida. The exposed
remains were discovered during a raise and realign project at the cemetery. The
veteran’s remains were later placed in a bag and reburied with what was left of
the cardboard box.
“When America’s
heroes make a commitment to serve their country, we make a promise to care for
them,” said Chairman
Murray. “That includes helping to
provide them with a burial honoring their service. I was deeply disturbed when I heard this news. There is no reason why the
remains of a veteran should ever be treated with this lack of dignity. I am
pleased we are taking the appropriate steps to right this indescribable wrong.”
“Those who have
served our country in uniform deserve our honor, appreciation, and respect, and
that responsibility does not end when they pass away,” said Senator Burr. “My heart goes out to those affected by the problems
at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. We must ensure that the remains
of veterans and servicemembers are treated with dignity and respect and that the
families of those who have passed away have no doubts as to the quality of the
final resting place of their loved ones.”
“All veterans
deserve a dignified final resting place,” said Senator Nelson. “A cardboard box certainly isn’t one. That’s why we’ve
got to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Those who serve
our nation in uniform deserve our respect and support, from the moment they
commit to serve through their deaths and even beyond as we honor their
legacies,” said Senator
Rubio. “Providing dignified burials
for veterans is a solemn pledge we must uphold. Cases like this are outrageous
and need to be corrected so that no deceased veteran is ever dishonored in this
way again.”
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Meghan Roh
Deputy Press Secretary | Social Media
Director
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
202-224-2834