Forgotten Veterans Who Died Finally Get Funeral Ceremony

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Fort Logan National Cemetery honored 30 veterans whose remains have gone unclaimed with a funeral ceremony Saturday in Denver.

The Unclaimed Veterans Remains Ceremony is part of the nationwide Missing In America Project.

Cemetery staff assistant O'Neal Hughes says the veterans' cremated remains were left at funeral homes, sometimes for decades, and others had no next of kin.

"Many of these remains have been temporarily inurned for many decades, without next of kin claiming or providing instructions for their disposition. Acting in accordance with Colorado law, VVA #1071 has located, researched and applied for interment for this first group of veterans. The VVA Chapter anticipates providing similar honors for many hundreds more over a period of several years," spokesperson Bill Hilliard for Vietnam Veterans of America said in a

statement.

During the ceremony, the names were read aloud, including their rank, branch and war in which they served. A bell was rung to honor each veteran.

Another 36 veterans will be honored at another service in about two months.

LINK: Read The Official News Release

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