Reporter Discovers Naval Burial At Sea Not Easy For Families

Get Marty: Family’s Quest To Bury Navy Veteran At Sea
CBS Pittsburgh
Marty Griffin
February 5, 2015

Meanwhile, our investigation has turned up a significant number of families in the same predicament.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The family of a deceased Navy Veteran caught up in a horrible bureaucratic nightmare reached out to KDKA to “Get Marty.”

Cheryl Beeman served in the Navy for 15 years. Her wish was to be buried at sea.

“She loved the ocean. She always loved the ocean. She wanted to be buried at sea,” says her son, Bob.

As it turns out, Navy Police allows for burial at sea. In fact, the Navy suggests the ceremony at sea should take place within a few months of the death of a Navy veteran.

Well, after waiting for nearly a year-and-a-half for the Navy to allow for the burial at sea of Cheryl Beeman, family friends reached out to Marty Griffin.

Meanwhile, our investigation has turned up a significant number of families in the same predicament.

We are trying to determine if the Navy will streamline policy and procedure so folks don’t have to wait more than a year to have a loved one buried at sea.
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