NJ Army Veteran With No Family To Get Full Military Funeral

A U.S. Army Veteran with no known family will be laid to rest with full military honors next week. County officials are encouraging residents to attend the funeral for Robert Grala, of Williamstown.

The funeral will take place on Monday, April 22, 11 a.m. at the Gloucester County Veterans Cemetery. Gala died of natural causes on Jan. 13, 2019, at the age of 70. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, according to county officials. He served in Korea during that time.

Gala was a decorated veteran, earning the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

“No one should be laid to rest alone, and although Mr. Grala has no known family, he was part of the military family,” Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said. “His time on earth and in the service mattered and we have been reaching out to veterans’ organizations to help spread the word of his burial.”

The Gloucester County Veterans Advisory Council will pay for the opening and closing of the grave, according to Gloucester County Freeholder Dan Christy, liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The setting of the headstone will be funded through the Vets Helping Vets account. The federal government will provide the headstone. The county is also asking for the support of local veterans’ organizations.

“The Gloucester County Veterans Cemetery is a place of dignity and respect, exactly the place Mr. Grala and all the veterans of our community deserve to be interred,” Christy said. “We are honored to spread the word so that he is laid to rest surrounded by fellow veterans and neighbors from across Gloucester County.”

In January, about 1,000 people turned out for the funeral of veteran Peter Turnpu, who also had no known family at the time of his death. He was given a funeral with full military honors at LP Wooster Funeral Home Funeral in Camden County. Read more here: 1,000 Strangers Show Respect For Late Vet With No Family

The Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at 240 North Tuckahoe Road in Williamstown, NJ, 08094.