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| Date: | September 8, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR NELSON CO-SPONSORS BILL TO PROTECT HONOR GUARD FUNDING |
(ST. PAUL) – Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) is co-authoring a bill with Senator Mike Parry (R-Waseca) to address the issue of Honor Guard funding.
The Honor Guard program was established to reimburse veterans organizations throughout the state to assist in payment for military funeral honors, and every veteran has a congressionally-authorized benefit to have an Honor Guard at their funeral if the family requests it. According to Minnesota Statute, the commissioner of veterans affairs “shall pay, within available funds” up to $50 to a requesting local veterans unit for each time that local unit provides an Honor Guard detail at the funeral of a deceased veteran.
Recent reports have suggested that this program, in the absence of a specific appropriation, was to be discontinued.
“I was shocked to hear recent reports that the veteran’s administration would no longer provide Honor Guards at funerals. Fortunately, following those reports, Veteran’s Commissioner Shellito said that the department would continue to fund Honor Guards. I applaud him for his leadership in making this determination. I wanted to make sure that we didn’t run into this issue again which is why I am also co-sponsoring a bill with Senator Parry to ensure that this funding will continue by state statute,” said Senator Nelson. “The Honor Guard is significant to our veterans and their families as our heroes are laid to rest. I will do everything in my power to protect this important service.”
A copy of the proposed legislation is available upon request.
