Veteran’s Affairs Cemeteries to offer “Green Burial” pilot programs
It’s probable to say that the fad of Green Burials has turned into a trend and may have become an accepted norm to human disposition. Evidence of this is given by the decision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs announcing in this press release that it is instituting a “pilot program” for interment options that minimize environmental impact.
The release, made public in late November, names three National Memorial Cemeteries that will allow the practice at this time. Those cemeteries include the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix; Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
According to the press release the pilot initiative will allow the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) . . .”to gather critical information to inform customer expectations and communications and define operational procedures for implementing green burial sections at additional cemeteries”.
The NCA will “. . . accept both cremated and intact remains for interment in green burial sections. The law provides that remains interred in a green burial section must be prepared for burial in a manner that does not involve chemicals or embalming fluids and must be buried in a biodegradable casket or urn, or are otherwise interred in a natural manner, such as securely wrapped in a biodegradable shroud”.
Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Waters had this prepared statement, among others, in the press release, “This pilot reflects our commitment to understand and address the emerging burial preferences of Veterans and their loved ones.”
Human Disposition Related News — Alkaline hydrolysis faces issues in Texas. This article and news video from NBC News tells of the University of North Texas Health Science Center that has been using alkaline hydrolysis as the form of disposition for human remains, even though the state of Texas has not yet legalized alkaline hydrolysis as a form of human disposition according to the state’s Funeral Commission.
More news from the world of Death Care:
- Anchorage’s public cemetery is likely to run out of room for low-cost burials next summer. Anchorage Daily News (AK)
- A local shortage of crematory services? WBEN Radio (NY)
- Legacy.com and iPublish now powering all Wick Communications obituary services. Editor and Publisher
- Cape Breton funeral director vindicated for cremating wrong body. PNI Atlantic News (Canada)
- Sebastopol’s historic cemetery is up for sale. Sebastopol Times (CA)
- How the world’s first “punk undertaker” is redefining funerals as we know them. Express (Great Britain)
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