MONMOUTH COUNTY – The remains of 21 forgotten veterans and six family members 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.”
On September 28, one by one, the cremains of 21 forgotten veterans and six spouses from WWI, WWII, Korea and the Vietnam War eras were carried out from the Monmouth County Sheriff ’s Office in Freehold as they began the journey to their final resting place.
The Military Honors For Forgotten Veterans event included four stops during the procession. After departing from the Sheriff’s Office, stops were made at the Hall of Records in Freehold Borough, CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township and Prospertown Lake in Jackson. The route concluded at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery where the ceremony was performed and the cremains of the forgotten were interred.
The procession brought the cremains from the ceremony to their final resting place. (Photo courtesy Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office)
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said he will continue the mission of ensuring that veterans who fought for our freedom won’t be left behind.
“We could never repay our veterans for the sacrifices they have made, but what we can do is never forget. It’s most important that these veterans who served our country are given respect and provided a proper burial filled with dignity and honor,” Sheriff Golden said. “The Monmouth County Sheriff ’s Office is proud to host this significant event and is grateful for the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12’s efforts in their commitment and tireless work to ensure these forgotten veterans receive full military honors.”
To date 133 veterans or spouses have been interred and 30 were returned to family by VVA Chapter 12.
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