At Unattended Ceremony, Two Bucks Veterans To Be Laid To Rest

UPPER MAKEFIELD, PA — The next Unattended Veterans Service will be held on Thursday, June 29 beginning at 2 p.m. at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown.

The public and local clergy are encouraged to attend the short, but poignant ceremony for veterans who have no family members left to say their goodbyes.

Two more of the county’s unclaimed decedents who were United States veterans will be remembered during this week's-ceremony. Both were veterans of the Vietnam War era.

“The community is invited to join the Bucks County Coroner’s Office at the Unattended Veterans Service to honor these men who served our country and have them properly laid to rest,” said Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck.

The veterans being interred are Airman 2nd Class Ralph Burbage (Vietnam War) from Middletown Township and Stephen Suckey, U.S. Army Specialist 4 (Vietnam War) from Falls Township.

During the ceremony, the names of the veterans will be read and the Pennsylvania Military Honors team will present the flag on behalf of the veterans. A rifle salute and live Taps will be provided. After the ceremony, the remains of the veterans will be placed in their own niche in the columbarium, which will be engraved with the words “Proudly Served.”