Legion Riders to provide escort to Civil War cremains

American Legion Riders from Post 79 in Zionsville, Ind., will provide an escort to the remains of two unclaimed Civil War veterans headed to Arlington National Cemetery. The cremated remains of brothers Lt. Zuinglius K. McCormack and Pvt. Lycurgus McCormack will head to Arlington National Cemetery following a memorial service in Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Missing in America Project (MIAP), in collaboration with the American Legion, recovered the remains from the unclaimed storage vaults of Indianapolis-based Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers. The brothers were cremated in 1908 and 1912, respectively.

MIAP has been identifying unclaimed remains and cremated remains since 2007; Resolution 24, passed during the Legion’s 2007 Spring Meetings, expresses support for MIAP’s mission. Those identified as veterans are escorted with full military honors and interred in a manner that befits their service to America.

A special ceremony to celebrate the lives of the two veterans is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 7 at the Hoosier Patriot Memorial in Washington Park East Cemetery, 10800 East Washington St. in Indianapolis.

The ceremony will include remarks by retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, executive director of Indiana War Memorials; an explanation of the "Missing in America Project" by Indiana State Coordinator Bart Colvin; and comments about the McCormack family by Rick France, vice president of the Genealogical Society of Marion County.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the cremated remains of the McCormack brothers will be presented to Colvin, who – along with the Post 79 American Legion Riders – will transport them to Arlington National Cemetery for a final burial service.