Some recent military funerals in the region are not including full military honors because of the federal government shutdown that began last week.
Jerome Feltis, a licensed funeral director at Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel in Grand Forks, said he was first told Friday morning that a funeral on Saturday for a retired Navy sailor would not be attended by U.S. Navy Reserve members from the Navy Reserve Center in Fargo.
“I don’t recall that ever happening,” Felstis said, referring to previous government shutdowns.
The honors that would normally be performed by requested military personnel would include presenting a U.S. flag to the family members of the deceased. The total number of reserve or active service members who attend can vary between military branches, according to Feltis, but most will send at least two members.
The hold on military honors doesn’t seem to be affecting every branch of the military, either; Feltis said another request he put in to have service members from the Grand Forks Air Force Base attend an upcoming funeral was approved only a few hours after he was notified about the Navy Reserve members. He added he’s unsure if any other branches are providing military personnel during the shutdown or not.
“I haven’t had to request anyone from the National Guard yet or from the Marines since the shutdown, so I don’t know what their response would be,” he said.
Because of the shutdown, military workers will not be paid until a funding deal is reached, according to the government. No new orders may be issued to active and reserve personnel until the government is reopened either, except in cases of natural disaster or national security.
Members of the East Grand Forks American Legion Post 157 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3817 will continue to provide their own services at local military funerals if requested, according to Jack Chatt, a member of the Legion and VFW who coordinates military services with local funeral homes.
Those services can include playing taps and providing riflemen. Chatt also said Legion members can present flags to family members themselves if other military personnel cannot attend.
Related Articles
Letters: Perhaps I was naive if I expected an esprit de corps speech from Secretary Hegseth
Noem visits Chicago area ICE facility as agents detain multiple protesters outside
Hegseth announces latest strike on boat near Venezuela he says was trafficking drugs
Trump administration taps Army Reserve and National Guard for temporary immigration judges
Other voices: Russia’s airspace incursions are a test for U.S., allies
“We will continue to be there,” Chatt said.
The shutdown itself is likely to last at least into this week after a fourth vote to pass a funding bill failed in the Senate on Friday. The Senate adjourned until Monday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson also announced the House would not be returning to Washington until Oct. 14.
Leave a Reply