Veterans laid to rest

The remains of Daniel Hughs, Paul Oden, Daniel Poff, Herbert Schafer and David Walters arrive at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Earlier today at the Tahoma National Cemetery I participated in a solemn ceremony honoring 36 indigent veterans who passed away in King County. All branches of the military were represented in the 36 veterans laid to rest.

Some of these men may have been homeless, others had no families or friends to care for their remains. But on this day, we gathered at Tahoma National Cemetery to recognize them and ensure that their lives will not be forgotten.

Many present at the ceremony today knew few if any of the veterans we honored, but all of those interred deserved to be recognized and honored because of their service to our Country.

The King County Medical Examiner's office works diligently in their efforts to locate next of kin or their estates executor for each indigent veteran they are responsible for. When they cannot locate anyone, they work with the staff of the Veterans Administration, Cady Cremation Services and the Tahoma National Cemetery to make sure they are buried honorably with their fellow serviceman and woman.

I felt it was important that even though they died without a loved one available to care for their remains, that we as a community step forward to honor each individually for their service to our Country. The ceremony also included a full Veterans Service Organization Honor Guard and an honor guard comprised of representatives from each branch of the armed services.

It is now my privilege to provide you the names of the five indigent veterans interred today as well as the names of those indigent veterans who have or will be interred in the hallowed grounds of the Tahoma National Cemetery in the coming days and weeks.

The names of those who were interred today:

Daniel Hughes, Paul Olden, Daniel Poff, Herbert Schafer and David Walters

The names of those who have or will be interred:

David Anderson, Ronald Boyd, Donald Cantrell, Allen Damon, Maximus Englerius, Glenn Frink, William Garrison, Bruce Hinton, David Jachalke, John Lane, Hong Mar, Daniel Marcus, Robert Maynard, Michael Michel, Paul Miller, Jack Mills, James Millsop, John Mullett, Wallace Nolan, David Plebanek, Wayne Post, George Roger, John Ronne, Allen Smith, Richard Smith, Robert Smith, John Ulvinen, Joseph Westcott, Leroy Wiley and Robert Wiseman

Please remember all of them in your thoughts and prayers.