Wichita Standard

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Mazie Hirono have introduced the Honoring Veterans’ Legacies and Burial Benefits Enhancements Act, aiming to enhance memorialization and burial benefits for veterans and their families. Senator Moran emphasized the importance of honoring veterans, stating, “How we memorialize and honor our veterans, when they have passed, sends a message to their families, our servicemembers and the country that we value the sacrifice of our military men and women even as the years pass.” Senator Hirono echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to share the untold stories of veterans buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

The legislation proposes the establishment of a nonprofit entity to accept private donations to support the Veterans Legacy Program (VLP), which provides grants to educational partners for historical research projects on veterans buried in national cemeteries. It also aims to ensure dignified burials and enhance burial benefits for dependents and historical Medal of Honor recipients.

Nancy Springer, VFW National Legislative Associate Director, expressed support for the bill, stating, “This legislation would establish the National Cemeteries Foundation to enable privately funded grants to sustain the Veterans Legacy Program educational outreach to research and preserve for posterity the stories of veterans interred in national cemeteries.” Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer for Paralyzed Veterans of America, emphasized the significance of dignified burials for all veterans, noting that the Act would help fulfill that obligation.

John R. Dichtl, President & CEO of the American Association for State and Local History, highlighted the impact of establishing a foundation to fund the Veterans Legacy Program, stating, “Generations of students will be able to explore how local and state history, through the lives of individual veterans, connect to national and global events.”

The legislation has garnered support from various organizations, including the American Legion, National Council on Public History, and American Federation of Teachers.

The full text of the legislation can be accessed for further details.