New Paragraph
It’s likely safe to say that most of us have one or more family members who have served in the military over time. Whether serving during peaceful times or during actual military campaigns, these veterans have made both profound commitments and immense sacrifices to serve our country. Personally, I am not a veteran. Rather, I am book-ended by my dad, Bob who served in WWII and my son, Hugh who is active in the military today. Like most of The Greatest Generation, Bob didn’t talk about his years in the service very often. And active-duty Hugh – a quiet but thoughtful guy naturally – doesn’t share a whole lot with me, my wife or his sister, either. Yet, talk about it or not, our family feels Hugh’s absence from many a family gathering, leaving us very much aware of his commitment (and that of all who serve) to keep the rest of us safe. It’s why I make it a point to thank those in the service when I see them. It’s the least I can do.
That said, I’m also glad to have the opportunity to honor veterans in more meaningful ways than a simple thank you. As a funeral director serving the industry for more than four decades, I have plenty of experience helping with veterans’ services. At Gearty-Delmore, our commitment is to stop and help families honor the lives of those who have passed. It’s our privilege to meet with families and help them create just the right commemoration by learning about their loved one and what was important to them. For veterans, this includes conversations about how to incorporate their military service into their final goodbye. For some, military service was a lifelong commitment. Others take lessons in leadership and other learnings with them as they move on to other careers after having served briefly. For these reasons – along with personal preference – how much emphasis to place on the military component can be vastly different from one veteran to the next. Similarly, the benefits available to our veterans can be quite different, too, depending on enlistment status, length of time served and other factors.
Whether we meet with veterans and/or their families ahead of time or at the time of need, funeral directors are an ideal resource for understanding veteran death benefits. Navigating the Department of Veterans’ Affairs can be complicated and overwhelming, even more so during a time of grief. Looking to our funeral directors for help in researching and managing these details can bring both peace of mind and even the potential for a better result.
If interested, you can also find FAQs and additional veterans’ information in the Services section of this website, including a downloadable e-book on Veteran’s Burial Benefits. Click here: Veterans Services.
On this Veteran’s Day, as we pay tribute to all those who served or are currently serving, we thank you for your commitment. And we pledge to honor that commitment in our services to you as we work together to determine just the right commemoration of a live well-lived.
Translate This Website: