REFERENCE TITLE: veterans; missing remains

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

HCR 2030

Introduced by Representatives Clodfelter: Allen J, Alston, Andrade, Barton, Benally, Blanc, Bolding, Bowers, Boyer, Butler, Campbell, Cardenas, Carter, Chávez, Clark, Cobb, Coleman, Cook, Descheenie, Engel, Epstein, Espinoza, Farnsworth E, Fernandez, Finchem, Friese, Gabaldón, Gonzales, Grantham, Hernandez, John, Kern, Lawrence, Leach, Livingston, Martinez, Mesnard, Mitchell, Mosley, Navarrete, Norgaard, Nutt, Payne, Peten, Powers Hannley, Rios, Rivero, Saldate, Salman, Shope, Stringer, Syms, Thorpe, Toma, Townsend, Udall, Ugenti-Rita, Weninger, Senators Allen S, Contreras, Fann, Griffin, Hobbs, Kavanagh, Kerr, Pratt, Yarbrough

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

honoring the missing in america project and military remains officers for their efforts to ensure honorable burials for all military veterans.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the men and women of the United States who have served in the military with honor and distinction deserve to be buried with honor and respect as an acknowledgement of their selfless service; and

Whereas, countless unclaimed remains of veterans have been forgotten and left on shelves and in storage rooms of local and state mortuaries, crematoriums and funeral homes in Arizona and across the nation; and

Whereas, failure to provide these dedicated individuals the full honors of a military burial is a disrespect to the tremendous sacrifice and service they have provided to our great nation; and

Whereas, the Missing in America Project is a nonprofit organization that seeks to locate, recover, identify and inter the remains of veterans to ensure they receive the honorable recognition they deserve; and

Whereas, the Missing in America Project has successfully identified and recovered the remains of numerous veterans in Arizona and nationwide, honoring their military service and providing closure for surviving family members and friends; and

Whereas, designated members of the Missing in America Project who are known as Military Remains Officers verify and inter the unclaimed remains of United States military veterans or veterans' dependents; and

Whereas, the Legislature supports the naming by the Missing in America Project of an entity to act as a Military Remains Officer in this state; and

Whereas, during an investigation and the subsequent verification process, Military Remains Officers work with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Social Security Administration, the county government offices and law enforcement organizations at the local, county and state levels to determine the status of a veteran or a dependent of a veteran; and

Whereas, designated and appointed by the Missing in America Project to fulfill their respective duties, Military Remains Officers receive no compensation for any work they perform in this capacity, and they are true volunteers who are deserving of the highest praise for their efforts to identify and honor the forgotten veterans of this nation.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature support the important work of the Missing in America Project and recognize the dedication of the selfless volunteers who seek to ensure that all veterans receive honorable burials.