Expanding Burial Benefits for U.S. Military Veterans

Many of my relatives and friends have served our country in various branches of the military during my lifetime. They all have a special place in my heart for their service to our country.

My dad served in the Army's Military Police at Fort Hood, Texas (which is the military base where I was born), and several of my uncle's and cousins served in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines. One of my uncles gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam in the early 70s.

All of our armed forces deserve respect and credit for serving and protecting our country, and that being said, yesterday (9/14) New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney "introduced legislation to expand access to headstones and burial plaques for US military veterans who passed away on or after December 30, 1960", according to her press release.

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Through the Department of Veteran Affairs, currently, veterans who passed away on or after November 1, 1990, have been eligible for a headstone or burial plaque but according to the press release from the New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, anyone who served prior to November 1st, 1990, has been "only eligible to receive a small medallion to commemorate their life and service to this country."

This new legislation would change the law currently on the books allowing an expanding expand burial benefits for American veterans who died prior to November 1990. I believe this is another big step in the right direction for our veterans who put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedom.

For more information, check out the press release from the office of New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

via New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney