Texas Program Ensures That No Veteran is Alone For Their Burial

No Veteran Is Left Behind

There is a program in Texas that makes sure no Veteran is ever buried alone. The Unaccompanied Veterans Program was implemented in January 2015.

Since then, 250 Unaccompanied Veterans Burial (UVB) services have occurred at several designated Texas cemeteries.

What is the Unaccompanied Veterans Program?

These ceremonies were put in place for eligible Veterans with no known next-of-kin or those with next-of-kin who are unable to attend, to ensure standard interment procedures with military honors at Texas State Veterans Cemeteries.

Before the implementation of this program, Veterans were brought into the cemetery and provided “direct no witness” burials. This meant their remains were brought to the cemetery and directly buried or interred with no honors or recognition of their military service.

This is no way to treat someone who served their country.

Factors That May Lead to an Unaccompanied Veterans Burial

This program is in place to make sure that Veterans are interred with honor and dignity, regardless of where they may have found themselves in life.

250 UVB have taken place over the past decade, and many times these following factors are the reason(s) why a Veteran may not have a next of kin available for the burial.

• The Veteran's next of kin may have died and survivors cannot be located.
• The Veteran may have separated themselves from next-of-kin due to family discord.
• The Veteran may suffer from mental illness or other health issues leading to societal isolation.

Numerous People, Organizations, and Businesses Help This Program

Texas State Veterans Cemeteries follow a standard protocol to schedule burial services for Unaccompanied Veterans. This includes cultivating relationships with community stakeholders including funeral homes, county services, local judges and Patriot Guard Riders to ensure all eligible Veterans are given honorable and dignified burial services at each cemetery.

Local communities have provided significant and overwhelming support for the Unaccompanied Veterans Program, with considerable public attendance at services to honor the Veteran during this last rite of passage. The Unaccompanied Veterans Program stands as a testament to the respect and understanding these communities have for the value of the military family.

The Next Unaccompanied Veterans Burial

The next UVB is planned for Tuesday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. The service will be for Kellie Charlynne Angel Mason. She was a Private in the U.S. Army.

Mason was born on October 5, 1966, Private Mason served from October 2001 to April 2009. Private Mason received the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for her service to our nation.

Her husband, also a US Veteran, passed away nearly 15 years ago.

The Unaccompanied Veterans Program has ensured that over the past 9 years, Veterans have been given the dignity and family they deserve. A debt of gratitude is owed to all those in this program.