An American flag is held by an Army National Guardman at the South Florida National Cemetery (© Lynne Sladky/AP)

Florida cemetery buries veteran in a cardboard box

6/2/2012

Members of Congress are fuming at the discovery of a WWII veteran who was buried in a cardboard box at Florida National Cemetery in 2004. Sadly, Lawrence Davis Jr. had no loved ones to see him off, so Veteran Affairs buried his remains in the same container they arrived in from the medical examiner. Though the cemetery duly holds a special service four times a year for veterans who are buried without family present, the circumstances bring up the question of what exactly constitutes a "dignified burial." Meanwhile, Florida's senators are supporting "The Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012," which would, in part, authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase caskets or urns for veterans when necessary.

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Is the type of box as important as a dignified service and memorial?