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Monterey County to hold May 14 dignified burial for seven unclaimed veterans
Summary
County military and veterans affairs officer Jack Murphy said a May 14 ceremony at Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside will inter and honor seven unclaimed Monterey County veterans; the office also reported fiscal-year service figures including 5,700 claim actions and about $21.5 million in disability compensation awarded.
Jack Murphy, Monterey County military and veterans affairs officer, said the county will hold a dignified burial and honors ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside to inter seven unclaimed veterans (one Marine and six Army veterans) who are native to or former residents of Monterey County.
Murphy described the veterans as aged between 58 and 80, including Vietnam-era combat veterans and service members who served at Fort Ord. "We'll be laying to rest and honoring these seven veterans," he said, and added that multiple agencies and volunteer groups will participate in the motorcade and ceremony.
Murphy listed partners and honors scheduled for the event: Central Coast Veterans Cemetery director Fernando Pimentel and his staff; Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner personnel including Sergeant James Day and Detective Brian Posadine; Patriot Guard Riders (Greater Bay Area), American Legion Riders, Presidio police for traffic management; the Presidio of Monterey honor guard for the flag ceremony; a rifle volley by VFW Post 9242 (Hollister); a joint honor guard from American Legion posts 31 (Salinas) and 41 (Monterey); and Joe Heston (Bugles Across America) to play Taps.
Murphy also outlined the office's recent service numbers: it serves both Monterey and San Benito counties (he cited a combined total of more than 25,000 service members, dependents and survivors), supported more than 3,300 unique veterans last fiscal year, filed 5,700 claim actions, and helped secure just over 2,100 disability compensation awards that Murphy said totaled more than $21,500,000 in tax-free benefits; the office processed 257 California college fee waivers saving approximately $2,100,000 in tuition for disabled veterans.
The public is invited to attend; Murphy said staff plan to set up about 200 chairs at the cemetery's main flagpole area and that community participation is welcomed. "We're going to have a lot of representation," he said, noting local veteran organizations and honor guards will participate.
