Efforts to ensure all veterans receive a proper burial

By Jasmine Otam
TheStatehouseFile.com 

INDIANAPOLIS — Legislators are working on a bill that would ensure Indiana veterans receive a proper military burial.

Senate Bill 145, authored by Sen. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, establishes a process for non-profit organizations that specialize in locating, identifying, and providing a proper military burial for unclaimed veterans remains in a state or national cemetery.

“It’s important in Indiana that every veteran have the dignity and honor of a proper internment in the military and veteran honors at their passing,” said Chris Crabtree, deputy director of the Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs.

This bill requires the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs to establish standards for approved veterans organizations, maintain a list of the approved organizations, and allow a funeral director to release verification information to properly identify and determine if the unclaimed remains are eligible.

If the remains are verified as those of a veteran or dependent of a veteran, the funeral director may then turn over the remains to an approved veterans service organization for proper burial.

Crabtree and his team at the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs have already begun working with the Missing in America Project and other veterans service organizations on the approval process.

“We believe this is an easy way to honor those who have already earned the honor,” said Crabtree.

The bill received no pushback Tuesday and passed the House Veteran Affairs and Public Safety committee 11-0. It is now headed to the full House.

“Every man and woman who chose to serve their country or state deserves to have that final salute,” said Lisa Wilken, legislative director of AMVETS Indiana.

Jasmine Otam is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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