ICCFA Seeks Vet Burial Benefit Restoration

Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and members of the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association Government & Legislative Committee met in Maloney's office to discuss restoration of a veterans' benefit that would provide a stipend for veterans to be buried in private or religious cemeteries, rather than one of the Veterans Administration's 125 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico reserved for veterans of military service.

Veterans' benefits once provided an allowance for vets to be buried in private and religious cemeteries if they decided to forgo burial in a national cemetery. The total financial cost to the federal government for each veteran so interred was less than $700. In the early 1990s Congress ended this particular veterans' benefit.

The International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) maintains that America's servicemen and women deserve the right to be buried with family members at a cemetery of their religious choice and close to home, rather than in one of the Veterans Administration's 125 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico, which can mean a veteran could be interred miles away from loved ones. The ICCFA is determined to have these private burial benefits restored.

Restoring and honoring veterans is not a partisan issue, and the ICCFA Government & Legislative Committee, whose members represent families from around the nation, visited Washington, D.C. during March 10 through 12 to meet with 14 Congressional representatives from around the nation and their staffs, including Congessmember Kenny Marchant of Texas. Members of the New York Congressional delegation, including Congressmembers Anthony Weiner, Joseph Crowley, Edolphus Towns and Carolyn Maloney, welcomed the committee. Upon learning of the legislation introduced by Congressmember Shelley Berkley of Nevada at the bequest of the ICCFA, each of the legislators agreed to co-sponsor the prospective law.

The committee also sought Senate support of the legislation. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is still qualified as an astronaut, expressed interest in restoring to vets the honor and respect they deserve. Senator Hillary Clinton's staffer, Joshua Williams, and Debra Simpson, Clinton's Military Legislative Fellow, indicated that the Senator would be supportive.

"St. Michael's is proud to have joined with the national effort to restore basic rights and benefits to our vets," Edward Horn, director of community services at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst, and a member of the ICCFA Government & Legislative Committee, said. "Their sacrifice for our nation deserves providing them and their loved ones the right to honor their lives as they deem appropriate."