Legislative Column for the Week of March 25, 2013
Our Veterans Resting Place

I was saddened to learn that there are a number of veterans whose cremated remains have been left behind in funeral homes, with no one living, able, or willing to claim the remains in order to arrange a proper resting place for them.

 

Because of privacy concerns, the funeral homes were unable to release information about the deceased to anyone other than the veterans’ families. As a result, some of these remains have been stored in limbo for an indefinite period of time, placing a burden on the funeral homes to store and care for the remains.

 

For this reason, I sponsored SB 186, which would authorize funeral homes to release information to the Department of Veterans Affairs or other veterans’ service organizations in order to properly care for the remains of these honored military men and women, providing the option of a proper resting place and relieving the obligation of the funeral homes to keep the remains until claimed.

 

The bill was introduced, debated and passed in the Senate and now moves to the House for similar consideration.       

 

Always feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues by calling my office at (573) 751-5713 or by visiting my website at www.senate.mo.gov/brown.

 

Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.

 


Capitol Office
State Capitol Building

Room 419
Jefferson City, MO  65101

 

Website:
www.senate.mo.gov/brown


Phone Number:
(573) 751-5713