Missing In America Project
MIAP
You served your country through a war, or through peacetime. You expected to receive a military burial, recognition by our government of your commitment to our great country. You expected to have honor and respect paid to you as a result of your service to our great country. Instead, you reside on a shelf in a mortuary or a storage facility at a crematorium.
The mission of the MIAP is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. These forgotten veterans have served our country and, as such, deserve to be buried with honor and respect. The impetus for our fine program began in November 2006. The Idaho State Veterans cemetery interred 21 cremains of forgotten veterans, with full military honors and the dignity these fallen heroes so richly deserved. Recently, a state hospital announced that 3500 cremains were on shelves to be identified. On the shelf were cremains for the time span of the 1890's to 1971. It is estimated 1,000 of these cremains are veterans. This is happening in every state.
This project has just begun. We need to blanket every mortuary and cemetery in the United States and let them know there are people who desire to claim our veterans. We need to let them know it is our desire to see they are interred with the honor and respect they deserve. They served our great nation. It is now our great nation's turn to serve them.
The veterans languishing on shelves need us. They need America to step forward and ensure they are buried with honor. They need America to show their thanks for their service. Without them, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today.
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MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT
Dateline - Roseville, Michigan
Paul Bernhardt 1924 - 01/27/1999
Cremation Remains
The following is an excerpt of a story that was ran in Corp. Neil W. Reid VFW Post 2358 newsletter this summer. It bears retelling to help raise continued awareness of the Missing In America Project and the plight of these forgotten heroes. The narrative is in first person format as told by the Post Commander Tom Dubiel.
"On June 10, 2010 I was approached by Stan Krajenke of Rech Realty Co. in Roseville. He told me that he found cremation remains of a veteran, Paul Bernhardt, in an empty house and he didn't know what to do with them. I mentioned that our post has a Ritual Team that travels monthly to Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Michigan. I told him to hold onto the veterans remains and I would find out what we could do.
On June 29, 2010 I told the story to Rachael Schilling of Great Lakes National Cemetery and asked her what could I do to get this veteran a proper burial. Rachael told me that they had buried 19 veterans remains on Memorial Day weekend. Each person had their own niche. She told me that two funeral homes in Dearborn were involved in this project called "Missing in America".
I contacted Querfeld Funeral Home in Dearborn Michigan and informed them how I heard of this project. I explained the situation and gave the office person Shirley Buehler the information that I had available - name, date of cremation, age, Funeral Director, wife's name, next of kin, Branch of Service etc. Ms. Buehler said she would look into the matter and help me get Paul to his final resting place. I received a claim number and called the National Cemetery Registration in St. Louis MO. to arrange a time and date for Honors for Paul Bernhardt who was a WWII Navy veteran hospital apprentice 1st class. I also called the U.S. Navy and faxed a form requesting funeral honors.
On July 27, 2010 our Ritual Team officiated at seven funerals and Paul was scheduled for honors at 10:30 a.m. We could not locate family members, wife or stepson, therefore I was designated as the next of kin. Our Chaplain, Jerry Wilkins, and myself, presented the flag and the remains to the Navy Honor Guard. I stayed with Paul for the honors. A member of our ritual team, Bob Kuechenmeister photographed the ceremony and the folding of the flag.
Ritual Team members who officiated at Paul's Honors were: Ted Hetherington, Don Block, Bob Kuechenmeister, Jim Reeve, Ron Conger and John Laffey "Bugler".
Thomas J. Dubiel Commander
C:/vfw> July-2010
