Senator Parker Honors Our Fallen Heroes

(Albany, NY) Today Senator Kevin Parker (D-21) passed another bill in honor of our fallen heroes.  Senate Bill 1615A makes it possible for not-for-profit veterans organizations to claim unclaimed veterans’ cremated remains so that they might be interred respectfully and honorably.  In 2010, Senator Parker’s original veterans “cremains” legislation was signed into law, which allowed for funeral directors, undertakers and funeral firms to honorably inter unclaimed cremated remains of veterans.  This bill creates parity for funeral homes, cemeteries and crematoriums so that they too might be able to bring veterans’ cremated remains to their final resting place respectfully and honorably .

“I am hopeful that the Assembly will join me this year in passing this important piece of legislation and that the Governor will sign it into law,” stated Parker. “Millions of Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice by risking their lives to defend this country through military service. This law shows the pride we have in our veterans, and reminds them that the people of New York are appreciative of their service,” continued Parker.

Unfortunately, there are still many unclaimed cremated veterans’ remains that are sitting on the shelves of funeral homes, crematoriums and other facilities throughout the country.  Cremains of veterans from World War I to the Vietnam era in New York, and other states, have been unable to be interred because those fallen veterans had no known family members to claim them.

“New York’s veterans deserve a distinguished and proper burial, honoring their service to our country. This legislation will help ensure our veteran’s are remembered and will be interred and memorialized in the communities where they lived,” stated JoAnne Sullivan, President, New York State Association of Cemeteries and Director of Cemetery of the Highlands in Highland Mills, New York.

“It is my hope this legislation will ensure that none of our fallen heroes will be forgotten,” concluded Senator Parker

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse Brooklyn community that consists of 318,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Assistant Democratic Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs, and Chair of the Democratic Task Force on New Americans.

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