New York Legionnaires help 10 unclaimed remains – dating back as far as World War I – receive proper goodbye.
In the mid-2000s, a group of Kansas American Legion Riders had seen one too many families of U.S. servicemembers killed in action being disrespected by protests from the Westboro Baptist Church at their loved ones’ funerals. That led to the formation of the Patriot Guard Riders, who provided lines around the military burials to block the protestors from interfering with the sacred event.
Since then, the Patriot Guard Riders have expanded nationwide, including the Patriot Guard Riders of New York (PGRNY). And the missions have expanded as well. One of PGRNY’s critical missions is the Veteran Recovery Program, a mission to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations.
Months ago, when the PGRNY learned of the remains of 10 veterans – ranging from World War I to the Cold War – were sitting on shelves in urns, unclaimed by family or friends, they made plans to provide those remains with proper burial at a fitting final resting place.
And they reached out to the Eerie County American Legion for help.
As a result, those 10 veterans received a proper military burial at the Western New York National Cemetery. Prior to that, they were provided a dignified transfer ceremony at George F. Lamm American Legion Post 622 in Williamsville, as well as an escort to their final stop at the cemetery.
“It was an honor to be part of the process: to make sure these veterans got to their final resting place,” said Erie County American Legion Adjutant Jim Bojanowski, a member of Adam Plewacki Post 799 in Buffalo. “And an appropriate final resting place.”
Bojanowski said he was contacted by PGRNY State Captain Bill Schaaf about assisting with the effort. “Obviously, we said ‘absolutely,’” said Bojanowski, who was able to designate a Legion post close to the route used to escort the remains to the cemetery.
Those remains arrived at Post 622 on May 21, where they received a dignified transfer to inside the post. Each urn was placed on a table with a folded U.S. flag next to it. A public viewing took place, while an overnight vigil ensured the remains were never alone while at the post.
The following day – the kickoff of Memorial Day weekend – the remains received a motorcade escort that included Patriot Guard Riders, New York American Legion Riders and other American Legion Family members that traveled from the post to a cemetery in the Town of Pembrooke.
Bojanowski said those along the final leg of the deceased veterans’ journey came out to pay their respects. “In Amherst, the town supervisor, who is a veteran and a member of (Post 622), he had the whole staff out there,” he said. “The different fire departments had the large flag either over the highway or in front of their fire departments. One American Legion post had a number of people out there along the way.”
Once at the cemetery, Legionnaires were among those taking part in a ceremony that included the dignified transfer of the remains, remarks from speakers, a eulogy for the veterans, a rifle volley and the playing of taps.
The trip to the cemetery also allowed Bojanowski to visit the gravesite of his brother, who was buried at the cemetery a year and a half ago. “That certainly plays at your heart. As you’re taking care of 10 other people, you still think about your brother.”
The remains included veterans who served in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea and the Cold War. Bojanowski said they all deserved a proper final farewell, and it was important for The American Legion to be a part of that.
“We’re veterans. We take care of each other. That’s just the bottom line,” he said. “It was awful that all of these veterans sat on a shelf for so many years. One person was deceased 59 years. It was time and appropriate to put them at their final resting place with a lot of dignity.”
- Honor & Remembrance