We learned last week from this National Funeral Director Association (NFDA) press release that Lesley Vitter, NFDA’s Senior Vice-President of Advocacy, testified on November 13 at a Congressional House Committee hearing that concerned reviewing “Our Nation’s Hallowed Grounds”.

According to the press release “The hearing focused on assessing and improving the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts to meet the needs of military families”.

Vitter made a good case for funeral directors to be represented as she pointed out “. . . that while the VA and DoD are responsible for providing funeral and burial benefits, as well as ensuring proper military honors, it is funeral directors who assist families in organizing personalized services that both celebrate the life of their loved one and honor their service to our country”.

During the hearing, which was meant to be educational, there were a few items that Vitter pointed out to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Mortuary Affairs.  For one Vitter pointed to a recent survey that found while 81.4% of funeral directors have knowledge of the government resources for finding veteran benefits, only 11.6% said it “was easy to locate information” on the VA/NCA website.

Vitter also pointed out that there could be better communication between the Department of Defense and/or Mortuary Affairs divisions on what is available to Veterans and their families.  She pointed out “. . . confusion among veteran families about which funeral and burial benefits they are entitled to and what is covered by the VA. Among those who experienced challenges, several recurring themes emerged, particularly a lack of education and understanding among veteran families regarding the funeral and burial benefits they are entitled to. And, while NFDA is encouraged that less than 25% of families have problems accessing benefits, it is funeral directors who spend a great deal of time working with families to help them through a tiresome and burdensome process”.

Finally, the press release noted the concern with problems and delays for scheduling and processing burials at Arlington National Cemetery.  According to a recent NFDA survey, “Almost half (46.3%) of respondents(funeral directors) have arranged a funeral at Arlington in the past five years. Of those only one-third (33.8%) of respondents said it was either “very easy” or “easy” to schedule services at Arlington”. 

Funeral Director Daily take:  It’s always been a great partnership between the military and funeral directors in wanting what is best and proper for our veterans.  Having an educational discussion hearing can only be beneficial for all parties involved.

The parties should continue to have these hearings and move forward from them with the goal of building alignment by all concerned that encourages the honor, celebration, remembrance, and memorialization of our valued veterans.

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