Columnist: Ditch Funeral Honors for Non-Hero Vets

http://spousebuzz.com ^ | March 29, 2013 | Amy Bushatz

[NKP_Vet]

“Bear in mind that most veterans did nothing heroic. They served, and that’s laudable, but it hardly seems necessary to provide them all with military honors after they have died.”

This is the argument offered by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bill McClellan in his recent column on why the federal government should no longer provide military funeral honors to veterans.

Give honors only to those who have died in combat, he writes. If others want honors they should look to their veterans organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to provide them.

[NKP_Vet]

Most veterans don't even ask for military honors at their funeral and most are not buried in national cemeteries. So I don't see how much money could be saved. The VFW does as good a job, or better than active duty honor guards. At least that's been my experience. If you want to save real money do away with King Obamagabe's monthly vacations, which costs the taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. That dumbo-eared bastard makes me sick. Every time I see him give a limp-wrist salute I feel like throwing up. You couldn't melted and poured this coward into the US military.

[Mouton]

I have left specific instructions about this. I did not serve in combat, just a Vietnam era guy. Accordingly, all I want is my vet plot and my flag...period.

Meanwhile, when his maximum eminence’s time comes, as far as I am concerned, incinerated in a luau pig and left there would be a perfect end.

[Da Coyote]

“You couldn’t melted and poured this coward into the US military. “ (Speaking of the Obamdork/felon/b*st*rd)

Wonderfully constructed and so very true.

[Gamecock]

It always cracks me up when someone tries to put a cost on what is normally a duty day function.

Let's break down the cost of military honors for a funeral.

Manpower: $0.00 (The Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen or Marines are getting paid to do something. This just pulls them away from their garrison duties. The work gets done anyway.
Transportation: A van is in the motorpool. Gas is needed. Let's calculate the depreciation and gas at $1.00 a mile. 20 miles RT, $20 dollars.
Flag? Maybe $8.00
Per Diem? Zero. So this "writer" thinks it is too much to pay a stinking $28.00 to give a vet a proper burial.

I suspect this clown has never even met a Veteran, much less served.

[ken5050]

The author makes a good point..if we're serious about cutting costs, we have to start somewheres. Your comments about Obama's vacations are of course correct, but it's also somewhat disingenuous...the argument then becomes.."don't cut my budget, because someone else should lose funds instead..

And let's look at career police and firefighters...who often serve for 20+ years...when they die in retirement, very, very few get department funerals..

[SamuraiScot]

the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bill McClellan in his recent column on why the federal government should no longer provide military funeral honors to veterans.

All gave up their personal liberty and risked the ultimate sacrifice, whether or not they were called on to make it. Honors are appropriate. As for this guy, I'm tempted to suggest throwing him in a Potter's Field and leaving it at that.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

McClellan's article was little more than a last gasp from a dying industry.
Fewer people are paying attention to big city papers and this outrage was an attempt to attract attention and boost sales.

[KeyLargo]

I am a member of my local VFW Post Honor Guard and we are very busy providing honors and presentation of the Flag to the families of the deceased veterans that are members of our post or other posts.

Also, for those veterans that did not serve in a war zone, American Legion Posts provide a similar service.

Families of a recent deceased veteran should contact their local VFW or American Legion. However, many families are not aware of the service provided to them on behalf of their military veteran family member.

http://www.dglobe.com/event/article/id/60967/

https://www.vfw.org/oms/findpost.aspx

http://www.members.legion.org/CGI-BIN/lansaweb?webapp=MYLEPOST+webrtn=wr_dsplcr+ml=LANSA:XHTML+part=TAL+lang=ENG

[BwanaNdege]

“And let’s look at career police and firefighters”

Yes, they serve, but I doubt if any of them had their life insurance cancelled by GEICO as mine was when I enlisted in the USMC.

When I asked, “Don’t you have a war clause that lets GEICO off the hook?, they replied, “Yes, but you Marines are always getting shot at even when war has not been declared.”

Whole different ballgame.

[A.A. Cunningham]

honors

[Chickensoup]

My father had full honors at his funeral and it was provided by volunteers from the local military groups.

I think it is great for people to experience moving patriotic events.

[knife6375]

Here are the "Benefits" as prescribed by the VA.

Military Funeral Honors "Honoring Those Who Served" The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for providing military funeral honors. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title of the DOD program for providing dignified military funeral honors to Veterans who have defended our nation. Upon the family's request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran's parent service of the armed forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans' family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home. The Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible Veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 on Jan. 1, 2000. Questions or comments concerning the DOD military funeral honors program may be sent to the address listed below. The military funeral honors Web site is located at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense For Public Affairs

Community Relations and Public Liaison

1400 Defense Pentagon, Room 2D982

Washington, DC 20301-1400

If the burial details in the area are busy, AMVETS, VFW, American Legion members are all the Military Honors you will get. And veterans don't charge for their services to other veterans.

[mosesdapoet]

Many VFW and American Legion posts in large cities have honor guard units that perform at death of members or at request if not.. And most small town posts have their honor guards attend any honorably discharged veterans funeral from their area whether a member or not.

One of my poems (Passing The Baton) is about these guys
http://www.theusmat.com/natdesk.htm or http://www.theusmat.com/vetspages.htm

[JCBreckenridge]

All vets are heroes. I guess that settles that.

[Billthedrill]

Well, to the best of my knowledge I wasn't killed in combat, I don't recall any notable acts of heroism (the clap line at Olongapo doesn't count) and I can afford to pay for the flag on my own coffin. It seems like a rather mean bit of economizing, though.

I do take issue with the notion that only those who got medals for visible heroism or killed in action qualify as "heroes". I watched a Chief Petty Officer end his career shoving a young sailor out of the way of a parted line one time. For me, that counts.

[Blue Ink]

The author makes a terrible point. Military funerals are sacrosanct.

And please don’t conflate cops and firemen with soldiers. Those farcical bagpipe travesties with people saluting glorified DMV workers with guns are sickening.

But every military veteran deserves a military funeral. Period.

There are very few laws for which I’d get off my behind and go pick up a sign and march or make phone calls... but this is one of them.

[darkangel82]

Just like Captain Cook?