'Forgotten Veterans' Honored In Solemn Ceremony In Freehold

FREEHOLD, NJ — Ensuring a proper resting place for veterans who have died, the Vietnam Veterans NJ Shore Area Chapter 12 held a Military Honors For Forgotten Veterans ceremony Thursday.

The Shore Area Chapter at the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office paid tribute to 16 veterans and two spouses from the World War II, Korean War and Cold War eras, whose cremated remains had been unclaimed.

The chapter has made it its mission to find proper resting places for people who have served in the military but whose remains were unclaimed. The remains have been at funeral homes or forgotten elsewhere often for decades, the chapter says.

“We could never repay our veterans for the sacrifices they have made, but what we can do is never forget. It’s most important 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 said at the ceremony.

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is proud to host 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 Shore Chapter 12 works with funeral homes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties to identify and provide those veterans a proper military interment for which they have earned. To date 113 veterans or spouses have been interred and 26 were returned to family by the chapter, a news release from the Sheriff's Office said.

“I was shocked when I first heard that veterans’ cremains were abandoned on the shelves at funeral homes. I couldn’t believe it and knew that we had to do something, so it has become our mission,” said Ernie Diorio, vice president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12.

“A lot of time and energy is put into this. You need to ensure veterans are honorably discharged, obtain their death and cremation certificates, and have a funeral with full military honors, but the results are extremely rewarding,” Diorio said.

The Military Honors for Forgotten Veterans Ceremony at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, where many gathered, had a salute to arms and a reading of the names of the 16 veterans and two spouses. Their urns, with a flag on each one, were placed in a vehicle, which led the large procession towards the veterans’ final resting place.

During the procession, three stops were made to pay tribute to the forgotten veterans for their duty, sacrifice and service. Crowds gathered along the route at the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Centrastate Medical Center in Freehold Township, and, with the assistance of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Prospertown Lake in Jackson.

“There’s an old saying that says may no veteran be left behind, we take that a step further in our chapter that says no veteran be left behind either on the battlefield or on the shelf,” said Richard Gough, Chairman of the Cremains Project, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12.

Once the procession reached the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Ceremony, there was a call to order, posting of colors by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Manalapan Police Department’s Honor Guard, a presentation of arms, a prayer to honor our veterans, a flag presentation, taps and the retiring of the colors, prior to the burial.

Also included in the service was a moment of reflection where a bouquet of flowers was presented to family members and a flower was placed on each urn, for the 16 forgotten veterans and two spouses.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and VVA Chapter 12 thanks all who supported this event including, Brigadier General William C. Doyle, Memorial Cemetery, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington County Sheriff’s Office, Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, CentraState Healthcare System, Especially for You Florist, Frank DeJianne - Covered Bridge Manalapan, Executive Undersheriff Ted Freeman, Kate Freeman and the Freehold Borough, Freehold Township and Jackson police departments.