News

When Carl A. Bower, of North Huntingdon Township, pre-arranged his funeral 17 years ago, the World War II veteran asked that taps be played at his graveside service.

At the time, Bower's funeral director, Pam Shirley-Kukich, could not guarantee the request would be honored, because too few veterans' groups were available to conduct services.

"Oftentimes in the past, it was difficult to have a Legion or VFW come out, only because there were so many requests and so few groups available," Shirley-Kukich said. "It was on a first come, first served basis."

Now, thanks to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2000, such requests are more likely to be fulfilled. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Paul S. Dziegielewski of the U.S. Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command in Coraopolis, Allegheny County, said the law requires military personnel to provide veterans with funeral honors at their family's request.

As a result, Bower's request was granted. Dziegielewski last week was part of a four-soldier burial detail that conducted military funeral services when Bower was laid to rest at Mars Hill Cemetery in Sewickley Township.

Dressed sharply in their Class A uniforms, the white-gloved soldiers saluted and stood at attention over Bower's flag-draped casket while taps was played. After the mournful tones subsided, they gently lifted the flag from the casket, folded it and presented it to Bower's youngest son, Donald Bower, of Las Vegas.

Donald Bower said his father was proud to have served, and he often talked about his wartime military service. Donald Bower said he was grateful for the burial detail's effort.

"I really was pleased with it," he said. "My father served with honor in the U.S. Army, and I know he was proud he served his country."

Traditionally, graveside military rites are provided through veterans organizations, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Although many such organizations continue to offer the service, units whose membership has declined or aged may no longer provide funeral details. That prompted veterans groups to lobby Congress for passage of the law that makes military funeral honors statutory for all eligible veterans.

"We felt it was needed for a long time," said Gerald Zorn, of Rockwood, Somerset County, commander of the Pennsylvania American Legion.

"A lot of our Legion and VFW members are getting older," he said. "Some couldn't muster out a full honor guard."

The law is not aimed at replacing burial services provided through veterans groups, Zorn said.

"We don't take anything away from clubs with honor guards," he said. "This helps with clubs with older members who can't get out."

Military personnel who are on active duty or who are members of reserve and National Guard units can perform the burial ceremonies, Zorn said. Military personnel usually are called upon only when veterans groups are unavailable.

Sometimes, veterans groups and military personnel both perform graveside services. American Legion Post 935 of Baldwin, Allegheny County, sent several of its members to Bower's funeral. During the ceremony, four of its members fired a salute -- three volleys from World War II-era M1 rifles.

Pat Gormar, post commander, said conducting the rites alongside military personnel has allowed the club to expand its burial ceremony. In the past, he said, the group performed ceremonies only in the funeral home. Now, working under the direction of the military burial detail, they assist with the graveside service.

Army Reservist Maj. Dan Hart, of Ben Avon, Allegheny County, was among the four soldiers who provided funeral honors for Bower. Hart takes part in the ceremonies because he is self-employed and can arrange his schedule around burials.

Although military reservists are paid for their services, Hart said he participates out of a sense of duty.

"Those who served deserve an honorable burial, and I have the time to provide for them," he said.

Dziegielewski, who manages the Army's Military Funeral Honors program for the 99th RSC, said each branch of the service is required to send at least a two-person detail for burials, when requested. At least one member of the detail must be a representative of the deceased's parent service.

At a minimum, the detail will perform a ceremony that includes playing taps and folding and presenting the American flag to the next of kin.

Since the law went into effect two years ago, the Army's 99th RSC has provided more than 2,800 burial details in a five-state area, Dziegielewski said. Of those, more than 700 were for Army veterans in southwestern Pennsylvania.

On behalf of families who want to request military burial honors for an eligible veteran, funeral directors may contact the Department of Defense's military honors toll-free service at 877-645-4667. Additional information also is available on the Internet at www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil.

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News