Even the Homeless Veterans ARE Remembered When They Die

By G. Natasha Zoe, Veterans Information Officer, NJDMAVA

The last morning of autumn swept bitter breezes across the rolling hills of the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown. To the sound of Taps, a plain metal casket was carried out of the chapel by the crisply uniformed honor guard. Following the rifle salute only one family member was there to accept the United States flag so precisely folded into a perfect triangle - a grateful nation's thanks.

This solemn ceremony, lead by Chaplain Leon Bell, was held in final honor for one of Jersey’s lost heroes – Pvt. Kenneth Kohlhepp who served in the Army during the Forgotten War.

The 72-year-old combat veteran spent many of his last years sleeping on the streets of Milltown. He died alone in a temporary boarding house. After his death he laid unclaimed more than a week in a Middlesex hospital morgue.

Pvt. Kohlhepp was just one of the Garden State's 7,000 homeless veterans. They often die alone on the streets, in homeless shelters, at local hospitals, or in abandoned buildings. For some the FBI must identify them with military fingerprint files.

Although Pvt. Kohlhepp is one of several homeless and indigent veterans interred at the picturesque veterans cemetery. He is the first to be taken care of by the new Homeless Veterans Burial Program.

Through the Homeless Veterans Burial Program indigent and homeless veterans are finding a dignified path to their final resting place. The program is a cooperative effort primarily funded by the national chain of funeral homes Dignity Memorial™.

Dignity Memorial’s more than 30 Jersey funeral homes work with the local medical examiners, the BG Doyle Cemetery, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other veteran’s groups.

“We provide any preparation needed, the casket and transportation,” detailed Dave Kalinowski, manager, Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home in Toms River. Coordinating a chaplain and attending the funeral are also part of the Dignity Memorial homes’ commitment.

The VA furnishes a headstone or marker for these homeless veterans. [And upon request, for the unmarked grave of any veteran who honorable served.] The VA provides the U.S. flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The VA also pays the BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery a plot interment allowance of $150 for the burial of wartime veterans.

“We provide burial service to all honorably discharged veterans, their spouses and dependant children at no cost to the families,” Cemetery CEO Wayne Ellis stated. Since its opening in 1981, more than 23,000 veterans and their eligible family members have been interred at the busiest cemetery in the state veterans cemetery system.

The New Jersey Honor Guard from the Memorial Cemetery provides the military funeral honors including a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.

Burying a homeless veteran can be emotional even for funeral directors. “[It is] just our way to give back to those who gave so much to our country," said Kalinowski, his voice choked with emotion. “The very least we can do is provide them with a dignified burial.”