ATLANTA, SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 -The US Military Funeral Honors is mandated by law. The honors include burial benefits such as flags, headstones, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates provided by the National Cemetery Administration. The National Defense Authorization Act provides the funding that the Department of Defense uses to administer the DOD Program called “Honoring Those Who Served”. The burial benefits program is the final compensation a US Veterans can receive from the VA.
Many families may have heard about the program but do not know how to apply. While under bereavement these families are faced with finding answers to their questions: Do Veterans get buried for free? And does my hero meet the VA’s criterion for the “Honoring Those Who Served” Program? And, how and when do we apply? That was the case with World War II Veteran US Army Private Poole. His family’s experienced laborious triumph with the VA’s “Honoring Those Who Served” Program. Private Poole’s “Honoring Those Who Served” Program request and VA Burial Benefit Claim received approval 2-days after his final farewell funeral and just before Labor Day.
Private Poole’s funeral service was planned and held on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The approval from the National Cemetery Scheduling Office was received after the funeral and on that Monday. Many military families are familiar with Military Funerals and the “Honoring Those Who Served” Program. And, some are unfamiliar with the National Cemetery’s scheduling process. This was the precocious predicament for World War II US Veteran Robert Lee Poole’s family. While under bereavement they had questions and couldn’t locate the 1946 Army Private’s discharge paperwork or his DD-214.
Robert Lee Poole’s Celebration of Life Service was almost as adventurous as his World War II Military Travels around the world. An unexpected call from the funeral home was received at the last-minute, notifying Poole’s Family that a DD-214 was required before his burial could be scheduled at the Georgia National Cemetery. The DD-214 and Military Discharge Paperwork are essentials to scheduling a burial at a US National Cemetery and for participation in the “Honoring Those Who Served” Program.
Private Poole’s Family was concerned if the VA Burial Claim would receive approval in time for a proper Military Burial. The funeral was held at Antioch East Baptist Church in Atlanta, and the Honor Guard played TAPS. Still his burial remained unscheduled for 2 days after the funeral service. Private Poole was returned to the funeral home where he rested at ease waiting for the VA to locate his DD-214 and approve his burial at the Georgia National Cemetery.
The Poole family made numerous attempts to acquire a copy of the DD-214 and World War II Honorable Discharge Military Records. A “DD-214 Medical Emergency” request was submitted when Private Poole was hospitalized. That request was updated 3 weeks later to a “DD-214 Military Burial Rights Emergency” request and resubmitted to the Veterans Administration, National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), and VA Hospital. But Poole’s records were completely blank and showed no data.
According to Poole’s niece, US Veteran Pam Bizzle, the National Archives couldn’t locate Private Poole’s Veteran Service Records; “his records could have been mixed-up with another Veteran named Robert Lee Poole and or destroyed in “The 1973 Fire” at the National Archives or NPRC”. The National Archives chronicles that the NPRC damage devastation of the 1973 NPRC Fire “destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). The records affected caused an estimated loss of 80% Army Personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960 and 75% Air Force Personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964.”
Private Poole’s family remained resilient and relentless, Vonda Burgmon-Bogans contacted her sister-in-law and brother, the owners of Stage-Frite Music Group, a popular Atlanta recording studio in Norcross Georgia, where internet viral sensation Myloyd records; he is known for the “Do My Dance” viral craze. Pamela Homes, contacted Veteran Owned American Kinetics LLC to assist and spearhead in what had become a ferocious fight to secure his DD-214, Military Funeral Honors, and VA Burial Benefits.
Three days before Private Poole’s funeral, American Kinetics LLC submitted a Veterans Record Request to Senator Johnny Isakson’s Office. Senator Johnny Isakson’s office response was swift and Private Poole’s records were located very quickly. The Poole’s Family representatives’ Vonda Burgmon-Bogans and US Veteran Pam Bizzle expressed gratitude to American Kinetics LLC in their time of need: “I want you to know that the joy in our hearts now could not be possible without your (American Kinetics) actions this past week. I cannot express the emotions when the honor guard came in and played TAPS for my dear deserving Uncle. He is pleased. You (American Kinetics) can move mountains.” World War II Veteran, Private Robert Lee Poole traveled to Canton, Georgia on that Tuesday.
Private Poole’s son Robert Lee Poole Jr., and other labored love ones were present for the 10:00 AM burial at the Georgia National Cemetery.
A sympathetic employee at the National Cemetery, who was not authorized to speak with the media, said; “We didn’t know the Poole’s had such difficulties. Had we known about their struggles we would have assisted them. We have people at the scheduling office who are dedicated to help Veteran families.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs posted the following update online.
National Cemetery Administration February 2018 Update
“The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration realizes that in the past month it has become increasingly difficult to get through to our scheduling office to receive eligibility determinations and to schedule burials. It is our intent to provide the highest quality of customer service that Veterans and their families deserve. We apologize for any delays you experience as we actively work to improve this service.
To be more responsive to our customers, the National Cemetery Administration is taking immediate action to address this issue. These interim measures will be used until we restore our normal response time to all your calls. Please continue to call the national scheduling office phone number (1-800-535-1117) to schedule interments.
We are working diligently to correct this situation. We will provide updates as soon as possible and we appreciate your patience.”
