S. 3202 (112th) Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefit

[3mtrship]

We all come here from different places in life. Most all of us wear many other hats. One of my other hats deals with the issue of veterans cremains abandoned in death alone and not properly buried.
This week Congress passed the below legislation and I am announcing it to all of you now.

Happy New Year, Jim

Link Follows: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/1 ... dium=email

[dtwarren1942]

Thanks, Jim, for your dedication to insure the dignified burial of the cremains of former servicemen/women. I read through the bill and was wondering if there was a specific instance prompting the inclusion of the prohibition of the interment of serious sex offenders in national cemeteries even though they may have served honorably in the military. I can understand the distaste the next of kin of the others would have for the actions the deceased undertook prior to their demise. However, they are no longer capable of harming anyone and they, for the most part, probably served their country honorably before embarking on a despicable path. Let their next of kin save their good memories. They have enough bad memories to deal with.

[3mtrship]

I double checked and found the following:

e. Persons Found Guilty of a Capital Crime

Under 38 U.S.C. § 2411, interment or memorialization in a VA national cemetery or in Arlington National Cemetery is prohibited if a person is convicted of a Federal or State capital crime, for which a sentence of imprisonment for life or the death penalty may be imposed and the conviction is final. Federal officials may not inter in Veterans cemeteries persons who are shown by clear and convincing evidence to have committed a Federal or State capital crime but were unavailable for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution. Federally funded State veterans cemeteries must also adhere to this law. This prohibition is also extended to furnishing a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a burial flag, and a headstone or marker.

I also found this:

c. Disqualifying Characters of Discharge

A person whose only separation from the Armed Forces was under dishonorable conditions or whose character of service results in a bar to Veterans benefits.

So the answer is, a person can conduct themselves after discharge in such a way they lose ALL benefits earned by service.
I also know the National Cemetery Scheduling Office makes that eligibility determination when burial is requested.

Kind Regards, Jim