This article was originally published in WND.com
Guest post by Bob Unruh
Families of U.S. veterans get snubbed by bureaucracy on Memorial Day
On Memorial Day, families of U.S. veterans buried at Cheyenne National Cemetery were snubbed by bureaucrats: A memorial service was announced at 11 a.m., but no one showed up to host the event or pay tribute to the veterans.
According to Cowboy State Daily, the official explanation is that it was a mix-up — the event was originally announced to be held at 11 a.m., when families would be in attendance, but was actually moved to 3 p.m.
The report explained: “As many as 100 people showed up at Cheyenne National Cemetery on Monday morning for an advertised Memorial Day ceremony to honor fallen heroes and loved ones. But the Veterans Administration never showed up to host the ceremony.
Attendees included Carol Anne Hopkins and Dale Hopkins, who traveled four hours from Riverton, Wyoming, to attend the event.
They “came to their feet,” the report said. “No one was there to play the tap dance that is performed at patriotic memorial services and military funerals. There was no honor guard, no 21-gun salute, and no prayers — at least not until the 11 a.m. announcement from the Veterans Administration The scheduled memorial will not show up for four hours.
The event, announced on the VA website at 11 a.m., attracted families, many from out of state.
“I’m a little surprised there wasn’t a (memorial) ceremony,” Army veteran Keith Jobs told the publication.
“We the people showed up today, but the government didn’t,” added Diane Fritsch of Cheyenne.
For those who want to show their patriotism, there are no cancellation notices or anything.
The report explains that Veterans Administration Cemetery Manager William Washington said the confusion may have been caused by a failure to update the Veterans Administration website.
Plans were not yet finalized, and Washington later met with Cheyenne VFW Post Commander Justin Tripp.
Tripp offered to send some veterans to the 3 p.m. event.
But the national organization’s website continues to report that the memorial will be held at 11 a.m.
“It depresses me,” Tripp said. “I’m a veteran. It’s not about the picnic, it’s about the people who died and never came home.”
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