MONMOUTH COUNTY – The remains of 23 American veterans were laid to rest at the Military Honors For Forgotten Veterans event.
The ceremony paid tribute, honored and provided unclaimed veterans with the proper sendoff they deserve. The remains of these heroes, some going back as far as World War I, sometimes sit on a shelf inside a funeral home for years, according to The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).
The VVA’s goal is to “promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans.”
The 23 veterans and two of their spouses were from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam War eras. To date, 90 veterans or spouses have been interred and 23 were returned to family by VVA Chapter 12.
“When I heard about veterans being abandoned on shelves at funeral homes I couldn’t believe it and knew that we had to do something, so it became my mission,” Ernie Diorio, Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 12 said. “A lot of time and energy is put into this. You need to ensure veterans are honorably discharged, obtain their death and cremation certificates, and have a funeral with full military honors, but the results are extremely rewarding.”
The Military Honors For Forgotten Veterans event included four stops during the procession. After departing from the Manalapan Police Station, stops were made at the Hall of Records in Freehold Borough, CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township and Prospertown Lake in Cream Ridge. The route concluded at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery where the ceremony at which the cremains of the forgotten were interred.
The Vietnam Veterans of America organized the procession along with the help of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Manalapan Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, the Monmouth County Government Board of County Commissioners and CentraState Healthcare System.
“We could never repay our veterans for the sacrifices they have made, but what we can do is never forget. It’s vital that these veterans who served our country are given respect and provided a proper burial filled with dignity and honor,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a part this significant event and thank the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12 for their commitment and tireless work to ensure these forgotten veterans receive full military honors.”
The service included a moment of reflection, where a bouquet of flowers was given to family members and a flower was placed on each urn for the 23 forgotten veterans and two spouses.
