Theodore's World

Yes Chrissie....this is deplorable!!! I'm sure that there were some of these men and women who were drafted but went to serve their country honorably along side those that enlisted. The least this Nation can do is to remember them Honorably and give them a proper final resting place!!!

I can not fathom or understand how funeral home directors can stand by for so many years and simply hide behind the law, saying they can't legally release the ashes. BULLSHIT!!!! Collectively, they could have brought this to the Nation's attention - the same as the MIAP is doing now. Fortunately, the ashes were never destroyed!!!!

May God Bless and Have Mercy on each and every one of these Glorious Heroes who fought and paid the ultimate price so each of us could enjoy the sweet beauty of FREEDOM!!!!!

How heartbreaking. Just to see how we "left these soldiers behind" in canisters to rot on hospital shelves because no one claimed the remains. I am so gladdened though, to see that we are taking action and getting these true American heroes the rest they worked so hard to achieve.
We slept well at night because they were patrolling the front lines for us.

This past Saturday I saw the Patriot Guard escorting a funeral through town here. Very, very impressive. It was quite cold outside and those men and women were riding those bikes to pay tribute to a veteran.

John, I don't believe the funeral home directors just stood by...at least I hope not. I think they would have been constantly trying to get some action by the VA for these veterans. They most likely got no compensation for keeping the remains and I applaud them for not just disposing of them "outside".

Ouch. My heart was bursting with pride for our nation's warriors when I read the post on the anniversary of the Iraq war. Now I'm brought to tears to think these fine people were let down for so long. I remember vividly my brother's funeral: the flag-draped coffin, the rifle salute, taps played, the folded American flag presented to my sister-in-law. To think there may be some of his brothers-in-arms sitting on a shelf makes me sick. This would appear to be an issue our Federal law-makers should see to...if they could ever get their heads in the right place and stop bickering.

The VA should take charge of this situation and get immediate legislation from Congress to allow these remains to be turned over to the VA. This would allow the funeral homes to have the freedom to release the remains for proper burial at National Cemetaries if families are not available.

Thank God for the MIAP, Patriot Guard and other vet groups that are working to correct this.

It's just another layer of disgust at how our servicemembers are treated, at least their cremains didn't get dumped at the local landfill. Thankfully the MIAP and Patriot Guard are acting, a mass burial at sea with honors is better than relegation to the trash bin. There is one of those establishments 19 miles from my home, a state run veteran's home. Makes me wonder about their vaults. Sadly this sort of redefines the term 'expendable' doesn't it?

John, thanks, it just shocked me so much. I had no idea this had gone on and it is so horrible.

Lynn, yes that part makes me feel a little better that at least now they know about it and are doing something about it.

Bob, that is so fantastic, I love seeing the Patriot Guard go by and know they are on their way to some place to do what they do.

PeteSuj,I know I am so sorry. I debated posting it but then I decided to do it so that we are all aware of what is happening in our country.

Tom, yes thank God for those groups. I will never forget this post, it haunts me.

Jack it sure does. After I read it and while I was crying I was thinking of an old film called" They were expendable".

Damn, Crissie, you were right...I'm still crying so hard I find it difficult to type.

That one commentor was correct when he said that "as a nation, we have done these men wrong".

It's another example where laws made for good reasons can have some severely unintended consequences. These laws need to be revisited and modified so that this never happens to another veteran again.

Thank you for bringing attention to this issue, and for all you do for Vets.

HI Delftsman, so good to see you. Yes your right and it is so sad and an ourtrage.