VFW Post Gives Homeless Veterans Honorable Tribute

Vets honor those who served, but died homeless 
Portland Tribune
Written by Raymond Rendleman
11 February 2015

“It’s an honor for us to be able to step in for the active military personnel who can no longer perform this service due to budget cuts,” Trumble said.

Photo Credit: PHOTO COURTESY: POST #1324 - From left, Bill Trumble leads fellow Three Rivers VFW members Chuck Chamberlin, Neil Alexander, Steve Prowant and DJ Ruger in presenting arms during the monthly memorial service at Willamette National Cemetery.

Upon the request of a deceased veteran’s family, U.S. law requires every eligible veteran who served honorably to receive a military funeral ceremony that includes the presentation of a folded burial flag, a rifle salute, and the playing of “Taps.”

But what if a veteran dies homeless or without any surviving family members?

When Senior Vice Cmdr. Bill Trumble and his group at the Three Rivers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1324 heard that funding was cut for the Oregon National Guard’s program giving full military honors at the funerals of homeless veterans, he immediately went to the Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley and offered services for the monthly memorial.

Burial services for veterans who don’t have a next-of-kin seeking full military honors are technically called “unescorted.” George Allen, Willamette National Cemetery director, said he appreciated that the VFW post stepped in to honor such veterans.

“It all aligns with our mission to make sure that no veteran goes unrecognized,” Allen said.

Nationwide, a 44 percent cut to the Army National Guard’s Military Funeral Honors program resulted in a $21 million shortfall. In a policy known as sequestration, automatic across-the-board funding cuts began taking effect in 2011 when congressional and White House officials couldn’t agree on a plan to reduce the U.S. deficit.

Although there’s been a 33 percent decrease in the number of homeless veterans since 2010, about 50,000 were found on the streets during the January 2014 Point-in-Time Count. Between 25 and 30 Oregon veterans are honored each month at Willamette National Cemetery’s monthly memorial service. The ceremonies are usually held on the fourth Thursday of the month.
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