23 Unclaimed Veterans Finally Honored With Burial Ceremony

MANALAPAN, NJ - Law enforcement agencies from Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as local veterans groups and motorcycle clubs, came together on Wednesday to pay tribute to almost two dozen veterans whose remains have gone unclaimed by families for years.

23 unclaimed veterans who served in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam and two veteran spouses were named, honored with a salute to arms and brought from the Manalapan Township Police Department to Brig. Gen. William C. Doyal Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown for a proper military internment, officials said.

VVA Chapter 12 works with local funeral homes to identify and provide those veterans a proper military interment for which they have earned. To date, 90 veterans or spouses have been interred and 23 were returned to family by the chapter.

“We could never repay our veterans for the sacrifices they have made, but what we can do is never forget. It’s vital that these veterans who served our country are given respect and provided a proper burial filled with dignity and honor,” said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden in a statement. “The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a part this significant event and thank the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12 for their commitment and tireless work to ensure these forgotten veterans receive full military honors.”

The remains have been sitting for years in funeral homes across Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to NBC New York. Some ashes were forgotten while others were misplaced or lost. All were found in just five funeral homes in Central Jersey.

The tribute ceremony served as part of the Cremains Project, an initiative which aims to bring unclaimed veterans’ ashes to their final resting place.

You can view a video of the brigade in front of Freehold’s Hall of Records below.