June 10, 2022

CT Dept. of Veterans Affairs to Conduct Final Military Honors for Veterans’ Unclaimed Remains

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CT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND CT FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSN. TO CONDUCT FINAL MILITARY HONORS FOR VETERANS’ UNCLAIMED CREMATED REMAINS

Public is Invited to Attend on Friday Morning, June 17 at State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown

On Friday, June 17^th, the Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc. (CFDA) will hold a military funeral ceremony for four Veterans’ unclaimed cremated remains (cremains): two who served in the U.S. Army; one each who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy; with one civilian spouse.

The public is invited to attend the 10:30 a.m. ceremony (rain or shine) at the State Veterans Cemetery 317 Bow Lane in Middletown. DVA Commissioner Thomas J. Saadi will lead the ceremony which will be supported by the directors of a number of Funeral Homes from across the State, the Connecticut National Guard, and the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders. In attendance will be state, local, and federal officials, and leaders of many Veterans organizations. Commissioner Saadi, CFDA President David W. MacDonald, and other dignitaries will deliver remarks during the ceremony that will include the posthumous presentation of Connecticut Wartime Service Medals.

At 9:40 a.m., the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders will escort three CFDA hearses containing the cremains from the DVA Rocky Hill Campus to the Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. Details about the procession and military ceremony will be forthcoming.

The Veterans to be honored are:

PFC Robert Benson, U.S. Marine Corps serving 1951-53, April 9,1931-August 19, 2008, died in New Haven;
CPL Loren Milton Cubbison, Jr., U.S. Army serving 1953-55, November 4,1932-February 7, 2021, died in New Haven;
CPT David L. Groher, U.S. Army serving 1943-46, May 9, 1919-November 14, 2008, died in Bridgeport; and
RD3 Morris Meyer, U.S. Navy serving 1944-46, January 11, 1914-July 19, 2004, died in Bridgeport, and his civilian wife Cornelia Meyer, August 13, 1918 – March 24, 2003, died in Bridgeport.

This is the eighth such ceremony hosted by the Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs in coordination with the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association since 2009 when Connecticut established new protocols to identify unclaimed cremated remains of honorably discharged U.S. Veterans in Connecticut funeral homes with the goal of providing them a dignified burial with full military honors.

For information about the Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs, visit https://portal.ct.gov/DVA

For information about the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, visit www.CTFDA.org