HIGGINSVILLE, MO -
A group of metro veterans, ranging from a World War I vet who died in 1964 to a veteran who died just a few years ago, were finally laid to rest on Thursday, after their unclaimed remains had been stored in area funeral homes for years.
In total, 16 veterans and two spouses from the Kansas City area were given a final resting place at the Veterans State Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri, thanks to area veterans groups. The ceremony included a trumpeter sounding Taps, while a military honor guard gave a 21-gun salute
"They don't have family, they don't have anyone to mourn them so that's what we're here for to find them, bury them and mourn them," said Linda Smith of the Missing in America Foundation. The group says there are thousands of veterans whose cremains were never given a proper burial, either because they had no family or because their families couldn't afford a funeral.
The Missing in America Foundation plans to honor another 100 Missouri veterans this year, whose remains were never claimed. This is happening because of Missouri House bill 111, which allows the unclaimed cremated remains of a veteran to be collected by a veterans group.
Charlotte Myers-Dick lost her son Eddie Myers in the Iraq War in 2005. Like members of the Patriot Guard and other veterans here, she's embracing those whose lives and service were nearly forgotten.
"I am the daughter of a vet, the wife of a vet, my son gave his life for this country and I honor them by doing this," she said.
This group of unclaimed remains may just be the tip of the iceberg. Bob Sever of U.S. Patriot Guard says he's learned of at least 75 other vets in the Kansas City area, and 400 across Missouri whose cremains are stored in funeral homes, waiting for a final resting place.
"I think the country owes it to them to bury them with honors," said Sever.
In total, 16 veterans and two spouses from the Kansas City area were given a final resting place at the Veterans State Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri, thanks to area veterans groups. The ceremony included a trumpeter sounding Taps, while a military honor guard gave a 21-gun salute
"They don't have family, they don't have anyone to mourn them so that's what we're here for to find them, bury them and mourn them," said Linda Smith of the Missing in America Foundation. The group says there are thousands of veterans whose cremains were never given a proper burial, either because they had no family or because their families couldn't afford a funeral.
The Missing in America Foundation plans to honor another 100 Missouri veterans this year, whose remains were never claimed. This is happening because of Missouri House bill 111, which allows the unclaimed cremated remains of a veteran to be collected by a veterans group.
Charlotte Myers-Dick lost her son Eddie Myers in the Iraq War in 2005. Like members of the Patriot Guard and other veterans here, she's embracing those whose lives and service were nearly forgotten.
"I am the daughter of a vet, the wife of a vet, my son gave his life for this country and I honor them by doing this," she said.
This group of unclaimed remains may just be the tip of the iceberg. Bob Sever of U.S. Patriot Guard says he's learned of at least 75 other vets in the Kansas City area, and 400 across Missouri whose cremains are stored in funeral homes, waiting for a final resting place.
"I think the country owes it to them to bury them with honors," said Sever.
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