VA suspends funeral honors, large gatherings at cemeteries due to coronavirus
All large funeral services and military burial honors will cease at veterans cemeteries nationwide starting next week as part of federal efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Veterans Affairs officials made the announcement Friday afternoon, with the new policies effective on March 23. That means that funeral services scheduled for this weekend at veterans cemeteries will continue as planned.
But starting Monday, “committal services and the rendering of military funeral honors will discontinue until further notice,” according to the department notice.
In a statement, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the move was necessary for the sake of public health. “We are committed to the safety of our veterans, their families and employees, and (we) have implemented an aggressive public health response to COVID-19,” he said. “At the same time, we continue to take steps to provide flexibility to veterans and their loved ones, where possible.”
More than 130 veteran cases have been confirmed in patients at 38 different VA medical centers across the country. The New Orleans VA Medical Center has the most, with at least 42 cases so far. Two deaths have also been attributed to coronavirus in veterans under the department’s care: One in Vermont and one in Oregon.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/03/20/va-suspends-funeral-honors-large-gatherings-at-cemeteries-due-to-coronavirus/