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02/13/2023 10:14 AMIn a show of bipartisan support, on February 8, Branford’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) signed a letter in support of a bill proposed by state Senator Christine Cohen (D, District 12) concerning upkeep of military veterans’ graves in cemeteries.
Senate Bill (S.B.) 636 would establish a process for complaints about the neglect of veterans’ graves, and provide for resolution through the state Department of Consumer Protection and the state Department of Veterans Affairs.
On February 7, Branford residents Ed Zack and Tom Brockett joined Cohen in providing supporting testimony to the legislature’s Veterans Affairs Committee. Information on their testimony and Cohen’s was shared in a press release issued from Cohen’s CT General Assembly office.
In her testimony, Cohen stated, "We certainly honor our veterans in life, and that needs to continue in death, not only in the burial ceremony but also in the upkeep of their grave sites to show our commitment to their sacrifice and ideal. This is an issue for so many veterans and their families. I'm trying to create a process by which that problem – which seems relatively simple and straightforward to resolve – can actually be resolved. It's a matter of respect and simple decency."
Zack has been a vocal advocate for better regulations ensuring the care and upkeep of veterans’ graves.
According to the press release, in his testimony, Zack said, “What is going on now is flat-out wrong. Veterans are being grossly disrespected. There's no one that's caring for veterans' graves – they're in disgusting condition at some cemeteries."
The release also shared testimony provided by Brockett, a Vietnam veteran, retired labor law attorney, and former RTM member and Democratic minority leader (2021).
"There are some cemeteries that are not subject to state law, and that's the key here,“ said Brockett. “What Senator Cohen's bill does is to create some limited jurisdiction so that if a group that owns a cemetery fails to care for a veteran's grave, a family has a solution to that problem. This is an important issue for veterans and their families.”
RTM Minority Leader Tracy Everson (D, District 5) authored the RTM's letter at the request of Zack and local veterans. Everson shared with Zip06/The Sound a copy of the letter signed by 27 RTM members at the February 8 RTM meeting. She said the RTM’s signed letter of support will be included in the record in Hartford and as part of the RTM meeting minutes.
The RTM letter, signed “respectfully submitted,” reads, in full:
“As elected representatives of the Branford Representative Town Meeting, we write in support of Senate Bill 636, An Act Concerning Upkeep of Veterans' Graves. In Branford alone, there are several thousand graves belonging to those who served and proudly defended our country.
S.B. 636 will create a process that does not currently exist. It will put in place a mechanism for a complaint to be made and heard regarding upkeep at cemeteries where veterans are buried, involving both the Department of Consumer Protection and Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill will allow us and future generations to ensure these graves are maintained with the reverence and dignity that all veterans deserve in their final resting place.”
According to Cohen’s office, the state legislative Veterans Affairs Committee has until March 9 to approve or disapprove of her bill.