Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Aug 28, 2023
Aug. 28—Columbus has long been a home to veterans of the military with Fort Moore, formerly
Some of these veterans struggle with life after the military. And in
While services for veterans are available through the
As a result, a developing trend that is disturbing to those monitoring veterans and their plight is that homeless and indigent veterans are being buried in pauper graves within
One of those watching the problem develop is
Liddell has helped multiple families make sure their loved ones are sent off with the honor they deserve and with comrades there to wish them goodbye.
She said she's usually notified before a homeless or indigent veteran is buried so she can arrange for a full military funeral at
In some instances soldiers are buried in pauper graves in
Liddell said she is currently working on getting a full military funeral for three veterans who have been buried at
For a typical military funeral for a homeless or indigent veteran Liddell will contact the funeral service at
Liddell said at one soldier's funeral about 40 people showed up to the funeral.
"This soldier served his country and he needs to be sent home in a proper manner,"Liddell said.
However, when a soldier is buried in a pauper funeral the process can take time to get them a proper burial. Liddell has to get the family to see if the veteran has a form that has the veterans service history.
The family must then fill out an affidavit allowing for the exhumation of their loved one. Afterwards, the funeral service company must take it to the health department which must approve the exhumation.
Liddell said in one case she's working on right now the affidavit for exhumation was filled out approximately a month prior and the veteran had not yet been exhumed.
In that case she said the veteran was an "up and coming young man" before taking a turn and died two blocks away from where his mother lived and didn't let his family know about his situation.
Liddell said his sister found out about her brother's death while searching for her nephew's obituary and her brother's name popped up. Liddell said the individual died in 2017 and just found out about his death this year.
In another case, a friend of one veteran found out his friend had passed after his buddy didn't meet with him at
The Graveyard
The pauper burial section of
Some graves are marked with crosses and a select few have headstones. However, some lie with no marking at al. In a row near the pauper section is the final resting place of four World War I soldiers. Some of the few with a proper military headstone.
Some graves are intricately decorated while some have only a mound of grass above them.
"We are our brother's keeper," said Liddell
Liddell walked around the pauper section of
"This is heart wrenching," Liddell said as she stood over the grave of one former soldier. "He served to give us the right to stand here, and look at how he's buried."
"I'm having real issues right now," Liddell went on to say. "It makes you want to cry, and I'm trying to hold back the tears."
Liddell said she believes that
As Liddell walked through the cemetery she kept repeating one phrase, "This is horrible."
Homeless Veterans
For homeless veterans, The Plummer Home is a respite from the streets. Founded in 2010 by the late Reverend
"We restore veterans' lives," said Jordan.
Plummer served as a colonel in the Army, finishing his career as the chief of chaplains at
The Plummer Home currently has a house for male veterans shelter at 1214 18th street, a female veterans shelter at
Jordan says
"We take care of every homeless veteran in our community and beyond," Jordan said, stating that the Plummer Home has helped homeless veterans from outside of
Jordan said one of the goals of the Plummer Home is to continue to grow to be able to do more for homeless veterans.
The Plummer home recently closed on the house on 18th street and plans are underway to renovate the structure.
Jordan explained that they both seek out homeless veterans to help and have veterans come to them seeking help.
At the time of the interview
A count conducted by
National effort to help stem the tide of homeless veterans
The
The
For veterans needing help, the department urges those struggling to call
the
This story was originally published
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