Burials of vets nonstop at national cemeteries

[unhappycamper]

The American flag flies at half staff over rows of servicemen's graves at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. An average of 1,800 veterans die each day, and 10 percent of them are buried in the country's 125 national cemeteries, which are expected to set a record with 107,000 burials this year.


Burials of vets nonstop at national cemeteries
By Joe Milicia - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday May 25, 2008 17:08:04 EDT

RITTMAN, Ohio — The cracking of rifle fire silences the twittering blue jays, blackbirds and killdeer.

As members of the color guard lower their rifles, the smell of bitter smoke drifts over the family and friends of former Army Sgt. Ellis Hale, a Vietnam War veteran who died of prostate cancer at age 59.

Another color guard member raises a bugle to his lips, and a recording of taps begins. Sniffles and gentle sobs accompany the somber melody.

A few moments later Sherry Hale walks down a curved brick walkway past the saluting line of representatives of the country’s past wars. Head bowed, she clutches to her chest the American flag that covered her husband’s casket.

The scene at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is repeated nationwide more than 100 times a day. U.S. military veterans are being buried at such a rapid rate that national cemeteries use heavy equipment to make room.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_veterans_funerals_052508/