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05/10/2023 12:07 PMPress Release, Connecticut General Assembly
On May 9, state Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), voted for legislation that will ensure that veterans' graves receive proper care, a bill she introduced in January. The bill will create a working group to ensure family members of deceased veterans buried in Connecticut cemeteries can raise concerns regarding the upkeep of their loved ones' graves.
"Ensuring that our veterans' gravesites remain well taken care of is of the utmost importance, not only out of respect for the men and women who bravely served our country, but also for their family and loved ones they have left behind," said Sen. Cohen. "Maintaining their resting grounds is an incredibly important charge. I am so grateful to the constituents who brought this issue to my attention and I look forward to building upon the findings of this working group with additional policy and proper funding."
Senate Bill 642, "An Act Establishing A Working Group To Address Concerns Regarding The Upkeep Of Veterans' Graves," would create a seven-member working group including representatives from the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Consumer Protection and Public Health; a representative of the funeral service industry; a representative of a municipal leader organization; a representative of small towns; and a member of the cemetery industry. This working group would develop a process for family members of deceased veterans buried in Connecticut cemeteries to address concerns regarding the veterans' graves. That working group would operate in the latter half of 2023, reporting their findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than the start of 2024.
This bill came after Senator Cohen received reports from constituents regarding the quality and condition of their loved ones' gravesites at a number of cemeteries across the state. Family members say they have little recourse to see the conditions improved due to limited resources at many cemeteries and limited legal oversight, the Hartford Courant reported earlier this year; some volunteers work to clean and clear gravesites themselves.