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Squidgygate or Dianagate refers to the pre-1990 telephone conversations between Diana, Princess of Wales and a close friend, James Gilbey (heir to Gilbey's Gin) which were published by The Sun newspaper.

In 1992, The Sun publicly revealed the tapes' existence in an article titled "Squidgygate" (the "-gate" suffix being a reference for a scandal). During the calls, Gilbey affectionately called Diana by the names "Squidgy" and "Squidge". In the conversation, the Princess of Wales likens her situation to that of a character in the popular British soap opera EastEnders, and expresses concern that she might be pregnant. The publication of the tapes was a highpoint of the media attention which surrounded the marriage, separation and eventual divorce of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Recording and publication
The tape was published after it was accidentally recorded by a retired bank manager who was a radio enthusiast.

First eavesdropper: Cyril Reenan
In January 1990, two reporters from The Sun newspaper met Cyril Reenan in the parking bay of Didcot railway station, six miles from his home in Abingdon, England. Reenan, a 70-year-old retired manager for the Trustee Savings Bank, regularly listened in on non-commercial radio frequencies for amusement with his wife. Reenan played them excerpts from a tape without having previously told them what he had recorded.

Two days later the journalists were shown round Mr Reenan's home-made eavesdropping studio, in which "Above the scanners was a 1960s-style tape recorder with a microphone dangling down above the scanning equipment so that the couple could tape 'interesting' conversations".

Reenan was quoted as saying he was "so nervous I just want you [the reporters] to take the tape away." He added, "I didn't know what to do with it once I'd got it. I was stuck with it, and I was frightened of it," he was quoted as saying, claiming that if the paper had told him that "the tape was 'dangerous', I would have burned it or scrubbed it out."

Reenan claimed that he had been so worried by the evident security breach that he had first thought of attempting to gain an audience with Diana: "I could have used a code-word, perhaps the nickname Squidgy... I was trying to save her face in a way." However, having thought on it "for a day, at least", Reenan decided that he "would not get to see Diana." So he "rang the Sun instead."

Publication
Published in The Sun on 23 August 1992, "Squidgygate" (initially called "Dianagate") was the front-page revelation of the existence of a tape-recording of Diana, Princess of Wales talking to a close friend, who later turned out to be Gilbey, heir to the eponymous gin fortune.  Gilbey, who initially denied The Sun's charges, was a 33-year-old Lotus car-dealer who had been a friend of Diana's since childhood. Their conversation, which took place on New Year's Eve 1989, was wide-ranging. A special phone line allowed about 60,000 callers to hear the contents of the 30-minute tape for themselves, at 36 pence per minute.

The tape begins in mid-conversation, with the man asking: "And so, darling, what other lows today?" To which the woman replies: "I was very bad at lunch, and I nearly started blubbing. I just felt so sad and empty and thought 'bloody hell, after all I've done for this fucking family...' It's just so desperate. Always being innuendo, the fact that I'm going to do something dramatic because I can't stand the confines of this marriage [...] He makes my life real torture, I've decided."

The conversation covered topics as diverse as the BBC soap opera EastEnders, and the strange looks that Diana received from the Queen Mother: "It's not hatred, it's sort of pity and interest mixed in one [...] every time I look up, she's looking at me, and then looks away and smiles." Additionally, in view of a fascination with clairvoyance that was later to become well-known, Diana was also heard explaining how she had startled the Bishop of Norwich by claiming to be "aware that people I have loved and [who] have died [...] are now in the spirit world, looking after me."

Diana expressed worries about whether a recent meeting with Gilbey would be discovered. She also discussed a fear of becoming pregnant, and Gilbey referred to her as "Darling" 14 times, and as "Squidgy" (or "Squidge") 53 times.

Second eavesdropper: Jane Norgrove
On 5 September 1992, The Sun announced that the same call had also been recorded by an Oxfordshire eavesdropper, 25-year-old Jane Norgrove, who claimed she had recorded the call on New Year's Eve 1989, but "didn't even listen to it. I just put the tape in a drawer. I didn't play it until weeks later, and then I suddenly realised who was speaking on the tape."

In January 1991, after sitting on the tape for a year, Norgrove approached The Sun. The paper made a copy of her recording, and offered her £200 for her time: Norgrove refused the money, claiming that she "got scared and didn't want to know about it any more."  Norgrove claimed: "I wanted to speak out now to clear up all this nonsense about a conspiracy [...] I'm not part of a Palace plot to smear the Princess of Wales." The Sun had initially published the opinions of "a senior courtier [who] claims the tape is part of a plot to blacken Diana's name" and the verdicts of other anonymous Palace staffers, who said that the tape was "a sophisticated attempt to get even by friends loyal to Prince Charles after Diana's co-operation with the book Diana: Her True Story, by Andrew Morton."

Such speculation had not been confined to tabloid newspapers: William Parsons, of anti-surveillance consultants Systems Elite, remarked that the technical and atmospheric requirements for such a recording to be possible (both halves of a cellular telephone call, with equal clarity, when the callers were over 100 miles apart, in different network cells), were so improbable as to arouse suspicion: "My money would not be on somebody accidentally picking it up [...] There is more to this than meets the eye."

Jane Norgrove was adamant: "It was just me, recording a telephone conversation in my bedroom. Nothing more and nothing less than that."

Context and reaction
According to Tina Brown, Diana and Gilbey had first met each other before her marriage to Charles and reconnected in the late 1980s. At the time of publication, the Prince and Princess of Wales, engaged in acrimonious pre-divorce proceedings, were involved in a protracted battle for public sympathy which became known as the "War of the Waleses". The Duke and Duchess of York had separated months before, and now all eyes were on Charles and Diana, the next king and queen, whose marriage had been the subject of rumour for years.

Speculation in the media—and in court circles—reached fever pitch. In his memoirs, Diana's private secretary Patrick Jephson recounts a fraught game of media one-upmanship by the feuding couple: secret briefings to friendly journalists, open collaboration with TV documentaries, and separate appearances at different public events on the same day were just some of the many strategies with which Charles and Diana attempted to force each other out of the limelight. Jephson recalls that the atmosphere at Kensington Palace at the time was "like a slowly-spreading pool of blood leaking from under a locked door."

Throughout 1991 and into 1992, Diana had been secretly collaborating with a previously little-known court correspondent, Andrew Morton, on the book Diana: Her True Story, which revealed in graphic detail the previously hidden disaster that the Waleses' marriage had become. Diana's bulimia, suicide attempts and self-harm were spelt out unambiguously, as were Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, and the intrigues of Palace officials in attempting to contain the disintegrating royal marriage.

Analysis of the tape
In 1993, The Sunday Times published the findings of an analysis of the "Squidgygate" tape, commissioned from Corby-based surveillance specialists Audiotel International.

Audiotel concluded that the presence of data bursts on the tape was suspicious. Data bursts ("pips" at intervals of approximately 10 seconds, containing information for billing purposes) would normally be filtered out at the exchange before Cellnet transmission. That these "pips" were present at all was therefore anomalous, but they were also too fast, too loud, and exhibited a "low-frequency [audio] 'shadow'," implying "some kind of doctoring of the tape," said Audiotel's managing director, Andrew Martin, in his firm's report. "The balance of probability suggests something irregular about the recording which may indicate a rebroadcasting of the conversation some time after the conversation took place."

Within a week of the Sunday Timess announcement, a further independent analysis was carried out for the same newspaper by John Nelson of Crew Green Consulting, with assistance from Martin Colloms, audio analyst for Sony International. Their analysis demonstrated convincingly that the conversation could not have been recorded by a scanning receiver in the manner claimed by Reenan. Amongst several relevant factors, there was a 50 hertz hum in the background of the "Squidgygate" conversation together with components in the recorded speech with frequencies in excess of 4 kHz. Neither could have passed through the filters of Reenan's Icom receiver or indeed have been transmitted by the cellular telephone system. The 50 Hz hum was consistent with the effect of attempting to record a telephone conversation via a direct tap on a landline.

Since Gilbey was known to have been speaking from a mobile phone, inside a parked car, this left Diana's telephone line at Sandringham as the source of the recording. Nelson's analysis, written after a visit to Reenan and an examination of his unsophisticated receiving system (which consisted essentially of an Icom wideband scanning receiver and a conventional television antenna), showed that the recording was most likely to have been made as a result of a local tapping of the telephone line somewhere between the female party's telephone itself, and the local exchange. Furthermore, narrow-band spectrum analysis showed this 50 Hz "hum" to consist of two separate but superimposed components, possibly indicating a remixing of the tape after the initial recording. The spectral frequency content of the tape was demonstrably inconsistent with its supposed origin as an off-air recording of an analogue cellular telephone channel but quite feasible if the recording had been made via a local-end direct tap.

As well as the strong technical case he made against the recording, Nelson established two other salient points. The first was that Gilbey's mobile telephone was registered to the Cellnet network. Secondly, the Cellnet base-station transmitter site in Abingdon Town, the data channel of which was the only one receivable on Reenan's receiving system at the time of his visit, was not in service at the date of the alleged telephone conversation; it was first commissioned on 3 March 1990. It was therefore not possible that the purported recording could have been made off-air by Reenan or Norgrove in December 1989 or January 1990.

With regard to the data-bursts that had aroused the suspicion of Audiotel International, Colloms and Nelson stated: "We are forced to conclude that these data-bursts are not genuine, but were added later to the tape. They originated with a locally-made recording, and show that an attempt has been made to disguise a local tap by making it appear that it was recorded over cellular radio."

Telecommunications company Cellnet admitted that it had automatically conducted its own internal investigation after publication of the "Squidgygate" transcript, because Gilbey had been speaking on a Cellnet phone. "It is a very sensitive issue if a cellular network has been bugged," said Cellnet spokesman William Ostrom: "We wished to satisfy ourselves exactly what happened." Cellnet's inquiry, claimed Ostrom, had "replicated" the findings of Colloms and Nelson: Cellnet announced that it was "completely satisfied that we can dismiss this as an example of our network being eavesdropped."

Government reaction
Suspicion about responsibility for the "Squidgygate" leak focused on the United Kingdom's security service, MI5. Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke said: "The security services are strictly controlled in their telephone tapping, and I know of no evidence whatever to indicate that they were involved." Such suggestions, he added, were "wild" and "extremely silly."

On the same day as these remarks, members of the Commons all-party Home Affairs Select Committee had their first meeting with Stella Rimington, director general of MI5. Committee member John Greenway MP (Conservative) remarked that the recent "Camillagate" leak "strengthens the case for a parliamentary committee to have responsibility to oversee or scrutinise the work of the security services [...] I suspect that colleagues will want to ask how true the allegations [of MI5 complicity in the 'Camillagate' leak] are, and I suspect that she [Rimington] will refuse to tell us." No record exists of matters discussed at the meeting.

The first major "Establishment" figure to question the official line on "Squidgygate" was Lord Rees-Mogg, the arch-conservative chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.  He had proved an early proponent of the "rogue spies" school of thought in January 1993, when he used his Times column to accuse elements within the British security services of being responsible for both the recording and its leak. "All those tapes were made within a month," he wrote. "The most likely explanation is that MI5 did it to protect the Royal Family at a time of danger from the IRA. I don't think there was any sense of wrong-doing, but once they were made there was the danger of a leak."

A few days before Clarke's remarks, the Daily Mirror had run with "Camillagate", an eight-minute tape of Prince Charles engaging in explicit conversation with his mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles. Richard Stott, editor of the Mirror, claimed that the tape had been recorded by "a very ordinary member of the public", although the paper was not allowed to keep or to make a copy of the tape. But The Sunday Times reported that an anonymous freelance journalist from Manchester was known to be attempting to sell a complete copy of the original tape, asking price £50,000. The re-ignition of the controversy over "Squidgygate" had been instantaneous: the date of the "Camillagate" recording was known to be 18 December 1989, just weeks before the "Squidgygate" tape had been recorded.

Political fallout
Before any investigation into "Squidgygate" or "Camillagate" had begun, Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke told the House of Commons: "There is nothing to investigate. [...] I am absolutely certain that the allegation that this is anything to do with the security services or GCHQ [...] is being put out by newspapers, who I think feel rather guilty that they are using plainly tapped telephone calls."

The Labour Party, then in Opposition, accused Kenneth Clarke of irresponsibility, issuing a statement: "He has to show that he is taking these allegations seriously, otherwise he will be perceived as being unable to control an organisation for which he is responsible."

Official position
John Major's government eventually published two reports, both of which cleared MI5 and MI6 of involvement in the "Royalgates" tapes. One of these was the annual report of the Interceptions Commissioner, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, who oversaw the intelligence-gathering practices of the security services. Excerpt follows: "[Lord Bingham] was impressed by the scrupulous adherence to the statutory provisions [against misconduct] of those involved in the [intelligence-gathering] procedures." In a clear reference to the "Squidgygate" affair, he commented on "the stories which occasionally circulated in the press with regard to the interceptions by MI5, MI6 and GCHQ," stating that such stories were, in his experience, "without exception false, and gave an entirely misleading impression to the public both of the extent of official interception and of the targets against which interception is directed."

Conservative MP Richard Shepherd called the official reports: "two old buffers saying that in their opinion the security services act with integrity."  The National Heritage Secretary Peter Brook gave MPs "a categorical assurance that the heads of the agencies concerned have said there is no truth in the rumours."

The Queen was so disturbed by the "Squidgygate" episode that she requested that MI5 conduct an investigation to discover the culprit or culprits. Since the motive could not have been financial, said the investigators—the only winners were the radio hams and the press—it must have been political.

In 2002, Diana's former Personal Protection Officer, Inspector Ken Wharfe, stated that the investigation had "identified all those involved, but for legal reasons I cannot expand further, and nor is it necessary to do so." Wharfe added that: "It does [...] lend credence to the Princess's belief, so often dismissed by her detractors, that the Establishment was out to destroy her."

See also
 Diana: Her True Story, a 1993 television film based on the publication of the same name by Andrew Morton, with Serena Scott Thomas as Princess Diana
 James Hewitt

References

Sources
 Adams, James: The New Spies: Exploring the Frontiers of Espionage; Hutchinson, London, 1994, .
 Cockerell, Michael: Live from Number 10: The Inside Story of Prime Ministers and Television; Faber and Faber, London, 1988, .
 Dorril, Stephen, and Ramsay, Robin: Smear! Wilson and the Secret State; Fourth Estate, London, 1991; .
 Jephson, Patrick: Shadows of a Princess; HarperCollins, London 2000; .
 Morton, Andrew: Diana: Her True Story; Michael O'Mara, London, 1993 (2nd edition); .
 Wharfe, Ken: Diana: Closely Guarded Secret; Michael O'Mara, London, 2002, .

External links
 Part of John Nelson's technical analysis of Squidgygate recording

Political scandals in the United Kingdom
Royal scandals
1993 in the United Kingdom
Telephone tapping
Diana, Princess of Wales


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Q: CanJS EJS table - rows appearing above the table I am new to CanJS and was trying to learn via tutorials.. Once place where I got stuck was when I converted the todo tutorial code to use table instead of UL/LI combination.
May be I am making some very small mistake.. but could not find out the same for last 3 days.. Can someone help out?
The jsFiddle for the short version of todo tutorial (which now uses tables) is here where you can see the problems.
The crux of the code from ejs is here..

Looking forward towards helping hands :-)

A: UPDATE: This was the result of a bug which is now fixed
It looks as if the comments are the problem here. Removing them makes it work, see the updated Fiddle:

        id
        name
        status

<% this.each(function( todo ) { %>
    <tr <%= (el) -> el.data('todo',todo) %>>

            <input type="checkbox" <%= todo.attr('complete') ? 'checked' : '' %>>

        <%= todo.attr('name') %>
        <%= todo.attr('id') %>

<% }) %>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Premier Wine & Spirits Inc.
SUPERMARKET operator Puregold Price Club Inc. on Monday said it secured its stockholders' approval that will expand its business to offering remittance service to tap mainly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
PUREGOLD Price Club Inc., which is led by businessman Lucio Co, has been given the leeway to enter the pharmaceutical distribution business as a way to diversify its product offering to consumers.
Lucio Co-led Cosco Capital, Inc. has tapped veteran investment banker Roberto Juanchito Dispo as one of its advisers.
Puregold Price Club Inc. is allotting P2.6 billion for its capital expenditure budget next year, mainly to fund the continuing expansion nationwide of its various retail formats and quick service restaurant chain.
MANILA - Cosco Capital Inc. of businessman Lucio Co posted an 18 percent increase in its nine-month profit this year.
Cosco Capital Inc., the retail holding firm of businessman Lucio Co, saw a 15 percent increase in net income during the first nine months of the year.
Cosco respects your privacy and will keep secure and confidential all personal and sensitive information that you may provide to Cosco and/or those that Cosco may collect from you ("Personal Data").
Please read carefully the Cosco Privacy Statement to understand how we treat Personal Data.
I accept the terms in Cosco Privacy Statement.


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What is an EdD degree?
What is an EdD Degree? An EdD, or Doctor of Education, is a professional doctorate best suited for experienced educators and mid- to senior-level working professionals who want to lead and implement change within their organization.
How do I get my EdD degree?
In order to earn an EdD, most programs require the completion of 60 units. Some programs will give students credit when they have already earned a master's degree. PhD: Coursework for a PhD varies from program to program and is designed to provide candidates with an opportunity to specialize in their field of interest.
Which is better a PhD or EdD?
An EdD primarily prepares graduates to become leaders and strategists in the education field—for example, as superintendents, deans, provosts, and school district officials—while a PhD is more tailored to preparing graduates for instructional and research roles in education and higher education, for example, as …
Is an EdD worth it?
If you are a mid-career education professional looking to advance your career, raise your salary, and impact real change, then the answer is: Yes, it's worth getting the degree. An Ed. D. requires a significant investment of both time and money—and it isn't for everyone.
Can an EdD be called Doctor?
Can you be called a doctor with an EDD? – Quora. If you mean with the degree Ed. D, then yes, you have the right to be addressed as "Dr.". It is the equivalent to a PhD.
Can you teach college with an EdD?
Answer: Yes — Earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree qualifies graduates to teach at the postsecondary level, at both two- and four-year colleges and universities. Like a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education, an EdD is regarded as a terminal degree in the field of education.
How do you write EdD after a name?
The Doctor of Education (Ed. D. or D. Ed.; Latin Educationis Doctor or Doctor Educationis) is an applied research and professional doctoral degree that focuses on the field of education.
What can I do with my EdD?
Potential Career Paths in Education for EdD Graduates
Primary or Secondary School Principal.
School District Superintendent.
College President.
Academic Dean.
Provost.
Admissions Director.
Program Administrator.
Chief Academic Officer.
Can EdD teach at university?
Answer: Yes — Earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree qualifies graduates to teach at the postsecondary level, at both two- and four-year colleges and universities.
What do you call someone with an EdD?
If you're an Ed. D running a school or school system, go right ahead and ask students to call you "doctor." They need to use a title, so why not doctor instead of mister? And by all means, put it in your email signature and your online bio.
How do I write my EdD after my name?
Can you call yourself a Doctor with an EdD?
What exactly is an Ed.D ddegree?
An Ed.D. degree is a doctoral degree in education focused on educational leadership . The abbreviation stands for Educationis Doctor, and the degree indicates that the person holding it has advanced leadership knowledge in teaching, administration, and education research.
What does Ed D stand for?
D – Educational Doctorate. What does Ed. D mean in Academic Degrees? This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand Ed. D in the Academic & Science field in general and in the Academic Degrees terminology in particular.
What is the difference between an EdD and PhD?
In the US,the set of degrees are: associate's,bachelor's,master's,specialist (uncommon),and doctorate.
The doctorate subset includes research doctorates and professional doctorates,as subsets.
The members of the research doctorate subset include PhD,EdD,DA (doctor of arts),DSc (doctor of science),and about 15 others (less common).
Can someone with an EdD be called Doctor?
Only those with a Medical or in some cases a Religous doctorate should be addressed as "Doctor". Thus, "NO" to a PhD or EdD. I don't agree, Mr. Deth. If it's a doctorate, you become a doctor once you achieve it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


DUBAI � A majority of the people in the UAE are unaware that used and thrown electronic gadgets and components can be recycled as more than 75 per cent of them are being dumped in landfills or burnt making it hazardous to the environment.
�Studies have indicated that there has been low consumer effort to recycle or segregate e-waste,� Dr Radhiya Al Hashimi, executive community member of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), said at a community lecture to create awareness about recycling unused and thrown-away electronic items.
A survey conducted by mobile phone company Nokia in the UAE revealed that more than 59 per cent of the people did not know that they could recycle their mobile phones. �Only 3 per cent of the people recycle their handsets and our key issue has been not getting enough mobile phones back to recycle,� said Mia Ranta-aho, senior environmental manager for Nokia Middle East and Africa.
e-waste includes all discarded electronic items � mobile phones, refrigerators, stereo equipment and computerswhose wastes may contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury, lead and polychlorinated biphenyl. According a Greenpeace International study published this year, the number of mobile phone users around the world will reach the two billion mark. The sales of other electronic gadgets have also been noted to grow exponentially at 400 per cent annually.
The United Nations estimates that roughly 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide each year, comprising more than five per cent of all municipal solid waste.
Mobile phones contain inorganic materials, metals and plastic that can be recycled as part of the sustainable e-waste management. �The battery is removed from the handset and metals like gold, titanium and copper can be reused once they are treated.
�The plastic can be reused to make traffic cones and park benches. It is important for people to realise that up to 80 per cent of the device can be recycled,� said Ranta-aho.
A UAE resident has more than two mobile phones on average but use only one. Recycling just one unused phone of all people can save nearly 80,000 tonnes of raw materials.
EnviroFone, a mobile phone and e-waste collection campaign by etisalat, collected 40,000 mobile phones and 23 tonnes of other electronic wastes in the UAE in the beginning of this year. In 2008, 200,000 mobile phones and 52 tonnes of e-waste were collected.
The Dubai Municipality has developed a refurbishment programme to upgrade discarded computers and donate them to charity. It aims to collect over 10,000 computers annually.
Recycling e-waste does not only save the environment but can slow the depletion of essential resources. �A landfill or improper incineration pollutes the ground and emits toxins which is harmful for people and animals. �Also, the consumption trend must be supplemented with a waste management system because if we do not put the metals back into the loop, then the global supply will eventually deplete and there are economic consequences as well,� said Ranta-aho.
Many countries follow a producer take-back law that makes manufacturers responsible for recycling used electronic items. The UAE currently does not have any such regulation and while waste, including plastic, can be locally recycled, other materials need to be exported to facilities in other countries for recycling.
By 2010, it is estimated that the e-waste in industrialised and developing countries will triple.
EEG has joined Nokia to set up mobile phone collection points in the country and create awareness among the public. �As individuals, we can contribute by segregating our waste to make sure that e-wastes are delivered to the proper disposal systems,� said Al Hashimi.


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Why Plan Ahead for Funeral Wishes?
How to Get Started With Funeral Planning
Protecting Your Funeral Funds
Meaningful Funerals
How Do Actions Help Us Heal?
The Importance of Symbols
Rituals and Traditions that Help Us Heal
Help Your Family Heal After Loss
Should I Have a Funeral?
What Makes a Funeral Meaningful?
How to Make a Funeral More Personal
What Are My Burial Options?
What Is Green Burial?
What Should I Know When Considering Cremation?
What You Need to Know about Anatomical Donation
Funeral Planning Checklist
What You Need to Know About Veterans' Burial Benefits
What Are My Burial Benefits as a Veteran?
Veterans' Burial Benefits Checklist
Veterans' Burial Benefits FAQ
Medicaid Qualification Rules and How to Spend Down With a Burial Plan
What Do the Coins Left on Veteran Graves Mean?
By christy.kessler Memorial, Veterans
If you've ever visited a national or state veteran cemetery, you may have noticed coins left on grave markers. But did you know that each type of coin has special meaning and significance? Let's dig into this intriguing tradition a little more.
It's not clear exactly when the practice of leaving coins on the graves of veterans began. However, many believe that the practice began in earnest after the Vietnam War. Leaving a coin was thought to either be 1) a way to pay respects to a solider without getting pulled into discussions about this much-debated war or 2) a down payment on a drink or a hand of cards when the friends are finally reunited.
For centuries, coins have played a role in funeral and remembrance practices. For example, in Ancient Greece, it was customary to place coins on the eyes or in the mouth of a fallen warrior. In Ancient Egypt and other ancient cultures, rulers and prominent citizens were often buried with coins as well as many household goods to prepare them for the afterlife.
While our funeral practices are no longer in line with the ancient world, coins have survived as a method for paying homage to someone we admire and respect.
What Do the Coins Mean?
Each of the four coin denominations have a distinct meaning, according to tradition.
Penny – signifies that someone (veteran or civilian) has visited the grave
Nickel – signifies that the coin-leaver attended boot camp with the veteran
Dime – signifies that the coin-leaver served with the veteran in some capacity
Quarter – signifies that the coin-leaver was present when the veteran died
As you can see, the higher the coin denomination, the closer and more personal the relationship to the deceased veteran. In addition to the four standard coins, it's possible you may also see challenge coins left at a grave as a token of respect.
What are Challenge Coins?
Challenge coins started gaining more popularity during the Vietnam War when they were used by Special Forces units. Typically, a challenge coin proves group membership (i.e. in a certain unit). Or, unit commanders present them as a symbol of recognition and achievement.
If you ever see a challenge coin on a veteran's grave, it is a sign of the highest respect. More than likely, it came from a brother or sister in arms. It's not uncommon for the challenge coin to showcase the emblem of the deceased veteran's military unit.
It should go without saying, but if you ever come across a challenge coin, please do not take it. Let it be a continual respectful remembrance for years to come.
What Happens to the Coins?
At national and state veteran cemeteries, cemetery staff eventually collect the coins. The cemetery then places the coins into a designated fund used to pay for maintaining the cemetery grounds (washing graves, mowing the lawn, killing weeds, etc.) and covering the burial costs of indigent veterans.
However, no one collects challenge coins. They remain at the veteran's grave as a sign of remembrance and respect.
For veterans buried in private cemeteries, any coins are subject to the regulations of the individual cemetery. Many cemeteries collect the coins and use them to maintain the cemetery grounds.
Interesting, isn't it? As human beings, we have an innate need to mark the passing of the people we love and respect. It's followed us from the beginning of time, and for as long as human beings exist, we will practice the art of remembrance and value the lives of those we love. So, the next time you see a coin on a grave, remember that this person is loved and missed.
Why Should Veterans Plan Ahead?
By christy.kessler Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Veterans
As veterans, you gave a part of your life in committed service to our nation, and we offer you a sincere and heartfelt thank you. But did you know that you can also do a great service and offer a gift of love to your family by planning ahead?
While no one likes to think about their own death, the fact remains that, one day, your family will need to make dozens of hard decisions to arrange your final life tribute. They will want to gather together, offer support to one another, remember you, and honor your legacy, including your noble service in the armed forces. Even if you don't want a big fuss, the fact still remains: someone will be responsible for making funeral plans for you. Why couldn't that person be you?
There are so many reasons to plan ahead, but here are the top five.
1. Planning ahead can actually save your family money.
When most people are called upon to plan a funeral, they are doing so for the first time in their lives. Because of this, surviving family members don't know very much about how to keep costs from ballooning and often end up emotionally overspending because they want "only the best" for you. However, if you put your plan in writing and your family knows exactly what your wishes are, they are generally able to save considerably by avoiding unnecessary spending.
2. Planning ahead allows your family to spend more time together.
At the time of loss, the last thing family members want to do is spend several hours at a funeral home making arrangements. With a plan in place that outlines your wishes for a final tribute, your family is able to spend more time together, offering comfort, support, and love to one another at a time when they need it most.
3. Planning ahead helps avoid arguments.
We are emotional beings, some more than others. The loss of a loved one often brings out those emotions, and if a family is torn about which options to choose, feelings can tend to run high. Even when a general consensus is reached, family members can sometimes continue to feel anxiety, doubt, and regret about the decisions that were made and how they were made. However, when family members know exactly what you want, they experience greater peace knowing that they are honoring your final wishes.
4. Planning ahead gives you time to create a meaningful and healing final tribute.
The more personal the service is, the more meaningful it will be. By planning ahead, you give yourself and your family time to plan and prepare a service (burial or cremation) that truly reflects your life and meets the emotional needs of your family. It will also give you time to mull over other questions, like whether you want to include military honors at the funeral or if you'd like to ask any fellow veterans to participate.
5. Planning ahead brings peace of mind even before you die.
Have you ever completed a big project and just felt a weight lift off your shoulders? That's what it feels like when you finally take that step and plan ahead for your funeral wishes. Not only does it bring you peace of mind, but it can also bring comfort to family members who know that they won't have to face those difficult decisions on one of the worst days of their lives.
Also, by planning ahead, you can ensure that you know exactly what you qualify for regarding veterans' burial benefits. With these benefits provided by the Veterans Administration, you can further alleviate the financial burden left for your family.
What Are Your Burial Benefits?
While the Veterans Administration (VA) does not pay for everything, they do offer assistance that will help you take care of your family and create a healing and meaningful funeral ceremony.
The first step is to determine if you are eligible to receive the burial benefits available. The main thing to remember is that those who received honorable or general discharges qualify while those who received dishonorable discharges do not qualify. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact your local VA office.
Dependents and survivors of veterans may also be eligible for VA benefits. This means that your current spouse and any dependents are also eligible to receive certain burial benefits because of your service.
Now, let's review the five main burial benefits available to you:
Burial Allowances
Generally speaking, when a veteran's cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursement is described as two payments:
(1) a burial and funeral expense allowance (associated with funeral or memorial options)
(2) a plot interment allowance (associated with burial costs)
In a nutshell, the burial allowance is a designated dollar amount that the VA pays toward a veteran's funeral. To receive this benefit, your family must apply following your death (or the death of a spouse or dependent child). The VA will direct deposit a designated amount into your family's account. Then, they put it toward paying burial/cremation and funeral service costs. Due to rising costs each year, the VA increases the burial and plot allowance amounts annually.
For more detailed information on eligibility, click here.
Cemetery Interment Benefits
Choosing a final resting place is a very personal decision, and it's always good to know your options. In the VA's eyes, there are three types of cemeteries: national, state veterans, and private.
In addition to burial allowances, the VA also offers burial (cremated or full body) in a national cemetery through the National Cemetery Administration (www.cem.va.gov). This benefit includes a plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, and a government-issued headstone. While placement is based on availability, you, your spouse, and any dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery. Of course, as with anything, there are certain rules and guidelines.
There is no charge for a burial plot in a national cemetery. Because of this, the plot allowance is not available for burial in a national cemetery. In some cases, the VA may even pay for the cost of transporting a deceased veteran to the national cemetery. Speak to a funeral director or your regional VA office to get more details.
State Veterans Cemetery
A second option for burial is a state veterans cemetery. These cemeteries are facilitated by the individual states, not by the National Cemetery Administration, so regulations will vary. Because of this, you or a funeral professional will need to contact your nearby state veterans cemetery to see if there are any fees associated with burial there and if they allow dependents to be buried on the grounds. However, you will be eligible for a government-issued headstone as well as the plot allowance.
Private Cemeteries
If you choose burial in a private cemetery, then you will be responsible for cemetery costs on your own. However, you will be eligible for the plot allowance to assist with the total cost. Again, you are still eligible to receive a government-issued headstone or medallion. Spouses and dependents buried in a private cemetery receive no benefits.
Government-Issued Headstones or Medallions
The VA will provide a government headstone or medallion to mark the grave of an eligible veteran. If you want, you can even request a government headstone for eligible dependents if they are not buried in a private cemetery. The headstone can be placed in any cemetery around the world, but the grave must be unmarked.
Additionally, if you prefer burial in a private cemetery, you can request to receive a medallion. Medallions are durable and can be easily affixed to any headstone. They offer a way to identify a veteran who elects to use a more personalized grave marker.
Click here to view the headstone and medallion options available through the National Cemetery Administration.
Because the American flag is a symbol of your service and sacrifice, its presence is a tribute to your life. Due to its importance, the VA provides an American flag to drape the casket or urn, and after the funeral service, the flag is given to the next of kin. Only one flag is issued per veteran.
Finally, the VA offers a Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC), which is an engraved certificate, signed by the current President, that is given to honor your memory and your service.
So, these five elements make up the basic lineup of burial benefits that are available to an eligible veteran. There are many details to the whole process. That's why it's important to work with a funeral professional and your local VA office. They will ensure you have all the answers you need.
Now you know why planning ahead is beneficial and which burial benefits are available to you. The next step is to reach out to a local funeral home and get started! Do a little research and find a funeral home with a good reputation. To help you, take a moment to read 10 Characteristics to Look for in a Funeral Home.
Once you've selected a funeral home, their staff will walk you through the rest of the process. They will make sure you don't miss any details. With all the decisions made, you and your family will have peace of mind, knowing that everything has been taken care of.
The Core Elements of a Military Honors Funeral
By christy.kessler Plan Ahead, Planning Tools, Veterans
Our veterans represent courage, honor, and sacrifice. Throughout our history as a nation, our military men and women have stepped up to face the opposition, protect our way of life, and preserve our freedom. Because we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude, it's appropriate that we honor them in special and symbolic ways upon their death. They served us in life; let us honor them in death.
The Department of Defense, through a program called "Honoring Those Who Served," is responsible for providing military funeral honors. In most cases, the military personnel who participate do so on a volunteer basis. Keep in mind, military honors must be requested, so if you are in the process of planning a funeral for a veteran, work with a funeral director to make an official request.
Military funeral honors vary. A few factors that affect military honors are whether the armed forces member was active duty, retired, or a veteran; their rank; and the place of burial. For veterans buried in national cemeteries, the honors will have an added element of formality and include additional elements, such as a horse-drawn caisson for commissioned officers buried at Arlington Cemetery. Veterans buried in private cemeteries will be less formal and include fewer elements.
For now, let's review the most common ceremonial elements and why they are significant to our veterans.
The Main Elements
If a family requests military honors, at least two honor guards will attend the funeral, one of which is currently serving in the same branch that the deceased veteran did. Depending on availability and the rank of the veteran, the honor guard may consist of more members. The honor guard will carry out the requested honors with precision and respect.
Flag-Draped Casket/Urn
The flag-draped casket or urn is a prominent feature of a military funeral that dates back to the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At that time, it was tradition to cover the dead with a flag before removal from the battlefield. Today, the tradition continues to remind the living of that person's service and sacrifice. With the American flag, the blue field spreads at the head, over the left shoulder of the casket. After services conclude, the honor guard folds the flag and presents it to the next of kin.
Folding of the Flag
The honor guard at the funeral will also fold and present the flag. It takes 13 individual folding movements to create the ceremonial triangle, which is intended to represent the tricorn hats worn by George Washington and his men at the foundation of our country. After the flag is folded, the service member representing the veteran's branch of service presents the flag to the next of kin and says:
"On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard), and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."
Playing of Taps
In 1862, during the Civil War, General Daniel Butterfield, with the help of bugler Oliver Norton, revised an earlier bugle call into what is now known as "Taps." Previously, the song signaled to troops that it was time to put out the lights and go to sleep. However, shortly after Butterfield's revisions, captain-in-charge John Tidnall presided over a funeral. He asked his men to play Taps rather than firing the customary three volleys. At the time, three volleys conveyed to the enemy an intention to begin fighting again. To avoid sending this message, the bugler simply played Taps. Since that time, the song has been associated with military funerals.
At funerals today, if a bugler is available, Taps will be played live. However, if no bugler is available, a recording of the song will always be played.
To review, the honor guard, draping of the casket, folding and presentation of the flag, and the playing of taps are the core elements of a military funeral. Depending on availability, families can incorporate other symbolic actions.
These elements include:
Three-volley salute
Horse-drawn caisson
Military flyover
Know Your Veterans' Benefits
In addition to the performance of these time-honored, symbolic actions, eligible veterans also receive other burial benefits. The VA offers burial benefits for eligible veterans, their spouses, and their dependent children. For instance, eligible veterans receive a burial space in a national cemetery where there is space available. This is at no cost to the family. Additionally, certain state cemeteries offer burial spaces to veterans, at no cost to the family. A veteran buried in a national cemetery is also eligible to receive opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, one burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a grave liner, at no cost to the family.
To learn more about your veterans' benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov.
Honoring Our Fallen Soldiers: Korean War Veterans Memorial
By christy.kessler Veterans
"In steel and granite, water and earth, the creators of this memorial have brought to life the courage and sacrifice of those who served in all branches of the Armed Forces from every racial and ethnic group and background in America. They represent, once more, the enduring American truth: From many we are one." – President Bill Clinton at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Dedication Ceremony on July 27, 1995
Memorial Day is a day set aside every year to honor and remember the many men and women who have died while serving the United States of America and its people. As we seek to honor them, let us remember them and the great sacrifices they made to preserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated on July 27, 1995, and was constructed to honor and memorialize the 5.8 million Americans who served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War (1950-1953). During its three short years, the Korean War claimed the lives of 36,574 Americans. Additionally, 103,284 Americans received wounds during the conflict.
The memorial also recognizes 22 members of the United Nations that contributed both troops and medical support throughout the war.
How It Came to Be
Congress received a petition for a Korean War memorial, and on April 20, 1986, they signed it into law. Under the guidance of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board, Cooper-Lecky Architects designed the memorial. They, in turn, employed several designers to complete plans for the memorial.
President George H. W. Bush conducted the groundbreaking ceremony on June 14, 1993. Just two years later, on July 27, 1995, President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea, officially dedicated the memorial. The dedication day was significant because it marked the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war.
Significant Features of the Memorial
Located in West Potomac Park, just southeast of the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial makes a lasting impression on those who view it. On the dedication stone, these words appear:
Our nation honors her sons and daughters
who answered the call to defend a country
they never knew and a people they never met.
There are several prominent features to the memorial, each one significant and intentional.
Mural Wall
The memorial is built in the form of a triangle, with the tip intersecting the Pool of Remembrance. One side of the triangle is the mural wall, designed by Louis Nelson. Made of polished black granite (164 feet long, 8 inches thick), the mural wall consists of 41 different panels with over 2,400 photographs from the Korean War sandblasted onto the granite. The images selected represent Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel and their equipment.
19 Stainless Steel Statues
If the wall doesn't command your attention first, the 19 stainless steel statues displayed within the walled triangle will. Designed by Frank Gaylord, each figure stands more than seven feet tall and weighs nearly 1,000 pounds. Together, the statues represent a platoon on patrol and all Armed Forces branches are present (Army – 14; Marine Corps – 3; Navy – 1; Air Force – 1). Dressed in full combat gear, they stand amidst strips of granite and juniper bushes, which represent Korea's rice paddies.
The mural wall stands nearby, and due to the granite's reflective quality, there actually appear to be 38 soldiers reflected on its surface. The soldiers represent the 38 months of the war and the 38th parallel, which still forms the border between North and South Korea.
The Pool of Remembrance
At the head of the triangle sits the Pool of Remembrance, a shallow pool lined in granite and surrounded by trees and benches. Nearby, engraved granite blocks pay tribute to the lives affected by the war.
Dead — United States: 54,246*, United Nations: 628,833
Wounded — United States: 103,284, United Nations: 1,064,453
Captured — United States: 7,140, United Nations: 92,970
Missing — United States: 8,177, United Nations: 470,267
United Nations Wall
On the north side of the statues is the United Nations Wall. This wall lists the 22 United Nations members who contributed both troops and medical support to the war effort.
Why Do We Have Memorials?
Permanent memorials ensure a lasting tribute for those who have been loved and lost. They also allow us, as people, to honor those we wish to always remember. Just as we create memorials for our heroes, we also create them for our loved ones. There are five key reasons why permanent memorials are important, whether it is to commemorate an event, a group of people, or just one person, like a close loved one.
A permanent memorial provides a place for people to mourn.
It gives all mourners (not just family) access to pay their respects and connect with those who have died.
It provides a permanent place that will exist for generations to come.
A permanent memorial allows people the opportunity to remember and reflect on the lives lived.
It demonstrates our honor and respect for those who have died.
For many of our veterans, a large-scale memorial honors the group as a whole, as is the case with Korean War veterans and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. However, for individuals, families set headstones, grave markers, or inscriptions in place. Both types of memorialization are important and honoring to our veterans and our loved ones.
In 2016, President Barack Obama authorized the installation of a Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The Wall of Remembrance will specifically name the 36,574 Americans who lost their lives during the war. Funding is coming in from private donations. If you would like to help with this effort to honor veterans of the Korean War, please visit www.koreanwarvetsmemorial.org.
*In 2000, 5 years after the memorial's dedication, it was discovered that a clerical error had been made and the total 54,246 included deaths that occurred outside the Korean War theater. The correct number is 36,574.
Honoring Our Fallen Soldiers: Vietnam Veterans Memorial
"Our nation honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of its Vietnam veterans."
– Inscription on the Memorial Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Dedicated on November 13, 1982 (Veterans Day), the Vietnam Veterans Memorial exists to honor the courage, sacrifice, and devotion of our American men and women who served in the Vietnam War (Nov 1955 – Apr 1975). Of the 3 million people who died during the conflict, more than 58,000 were Americans. The memorial not only honors the memory of those who died in hostile encounters but all those who served. This includes those still considered missing and the women who served as nurses.
There are three main parts to the memorial: The Memorial Wall (November 13, 1982), the Three Soldiers (November 11, 1984), and the Vietnam Women's Memorial (November 11, 1993).
In April 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was established with the intent to fund a memorial for Vietnam veterans. Jan C. Scruggs, a wounded Vietnam veteran himself, began the call for a memorial, saying that it would help bring healing to the roughly 3 million Americans who served in the war. Within three years, private donations raised $8.4 million, which included contributions from more than 275,000 Americans.
In July 1980, Congress chose and authorized a site for the memorial. In order to determine the memorial's design, several federal agencies arranged a competition. By March 30, 1981, they received more than 1,400 submissions. For the sake of fairness and anonymity, no names accompanied the entries. Each entry had an assigned number. In the end, it was entry number 1,026 that won – a woman named Maya Lin.
Due to some controversy surrounding Lin's design (some thought it too greatly resembled a large tombstone), it was decided to commission Frederick Hart (another design competition entrant) to create a more traditional sculpture. This is how The Three Soldiers came to be. The dedication for The Three Soldiers took place on November 11, 1984, two years after the Memorial Wall.
On November 11, 1993, the Women's Vietnam Memorial dedication took place. It was designed by Glenna Goodacre to honor the women of the United States who served in the Vietnam War.
Memorial Wall
The Memorial Wall consists of two long, granite walls (246 feet long, 9 inches deep), each polished to a high sheen to create a mirror effect. Each wall possesses 72 panels (144 panels total), each etched with the names of servicemen. When you look at the wall, you can see your own reflection as well as the etched names. This was Maya Lin's way of symbolically bringing the past and the present together.
At its dedication, the wall listed 57,939 names, but as of May 2018, there are 58,320 names, including eight women. The number of names on the wall differs from the official numbers because some families requested the omission of a veteran's name. The etched names include all service members declared dead (not necessarily killed in action) as well as those whose status is unknown (missing in action).
Listed in chronological order, the listed names are based on the date of their casualty. Oftentimes, visitors create a rubbing as a memento of their loved one. They place a piece of paper over a name, and using a crayon or pencil, transfer the inscription to paper.
The Three Soldiers
Located a short distance from the Memorial Wall, the more traditional bronze statue of three soldiers stands. At the time of its selection, some people disapproved of the memorial wall's design. Due to dissenting opinions, The Three Soldiers was commissioned to add a more traditional element. Frederick Hart created the statue that now stands.
The Three Soldiers depicts men who represent the ethnic groups most heavily involved in the war's combat forces – a Hispanic man, an African American man, and a Caucasian man. From their final placement, it appears as if the three men are looking at the Memorial Wall, as if giving silent tribute to their fallen comrades.
The Women's Vietnam Memorial
Added at a later date, the Vietnam Women's Memorial honors the thousands of women who served during the Vietnam War, mostly as nurses. Designed by gifted sculptor Glenna Goodacre, the statue depicts three uniformed women with a wounded soldier.
Diane Carlson, a former Army nurse, first advocated for a memorial to recognize the women's contribution to the war effort. After ten years, Presidents Reagan and Bush approved the memorial. The dedication took place on November 11, 1993. The addition of the Women's Vietnam Memorial marked the first establishment of a memorial in the nation's capital to recognize the patriotic service of women.
"In Memory" Plaque
Established on November 10, 2004, the "In Memory" plaque is a final notable feature of the memorial. Placed near The Three Soldiers, the plaque honors veterans who died after the war as a direct result of injuries suffered in Vietnam but who are not eligible for placement on the Memorial Wall (per Department of Defense guidelines). This includes those who died from PTSD-related illnesses, Hodgkin's and Parkinson's, exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange, and cancer.
Made of black granite (2 feet tall, 3 feet wide), the inscription reads: "In memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice."
Permanent memorials ensure a lasting tribute for those who have been loved and lost. They also allow us, as people, to honor those we wish to always remember. Just as we create memorials for our heroes, we also create them for our loved ones. Permanent memorials are important for five key reasons.
For many of our veterans, a large-scale memorial honors the group as a whole, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. However, headstones, grave markers, or inscriptions set in place by their families honor them as individuals. Both types of memorialization are important and honoring to our veterans and our loved ones.
Helping Veterans
In 2017, as part of the 35th anniversary commemoration of the memorial, all 58,282 names were read aloud in the days just prior to Veterans Day. Volunteers, Vietnam veterans, family members of fallen Vietnam veterans, and employees of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund began reading the names early in the week and only took a break between midnight and 5 a.m. Every five years, a group of volunteers read aloud each person's name. This tradition remembers each person individually and honors them specifically.
If you would like to support our Vietnam veterans, consider partnering with Vietnam Veterans of America, an organization that offers veterans services and outreach programs for Vietnam veterans.
Honoring Our Fallen Soldiers: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." – Inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Memorial Day is a day set aside every year to honor and remember the many men and women who have died while serving our nation. As we seek to honor them, let us remember them and the great sacrifices they made to preserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Lasting from July 1914 to November 1918, more than 4 million Americans served in World War I. In the end, more than 8 million soldiers across the world died in the conflict, with over 116,000 of them being American. Thousands of soldiers remained unidentified at the end of the war, and in 1920, the United Kingdom dedicated its own Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In the following year, the United States, France, and Italy all dedicated their own memorials to the unidentified dead of the war. To this day, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most hallowed grave at Arlington Cemetery.
On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier to honor the unidentified dead of the war. In November, four unknown soldiers were exhumed from the four World War I American cemeteries in France. U.S. Army Sergeant Edward Younger, a decorated veteran, selected one of the caskets at random to be taken to Washington, D.C., for burial at the memorial. Once in the United States, the unknown soldier lay in state at the Capital from his arrival on November 9 until Veterans Day (then called Armistice Day). An estimated 90,000 people came to pay their respects during his time at the Capitol. On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated the interment ceremonies at the memorial.
Eventually, the remains of unidentified soldiers from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War would join their World War I compatriot in nearby interment locations marked with white marble slabs. However, in 1998, DNA testing identified the unknown Vietnam soldier. After his identification, the family received his remains. The Vietnam crypt remains vacant to this day, though an inscription was added, which says, "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen."
When it was first constructed, the memorial did not include the rectangular, white marble sarcophagus that we now associate with the memorial. Instead, a simple marble slab covered the tomb's opening. It was always intended that a structure sit atop the crypt, but it wasn't until July 1926 that the funds were authorized. Then, in 1929, Lorimer Rich and Thomas Hudson Jones' design was approved, and construction officially began.
Using Yule marble quarried from Marble, Colorado, the tomb consists of seven large pieces. It is flat-faced with neoclassic columns. Sculpted onto the east panel are three Greek figures, symbolizing peace, victory, and valor, commemorating the spirit of the Allies. And on the north and south panels, six inverted wreaths are sculpted, symbolizing mourning and representing the six major campaigns in World War I fought by Americans: Battel of Ardennes, Battle of Belleau Wood, Battle of Chateau-Thierry, Meusse-Argonne, Aisne-Marne, and the Battle of the Somme.
Perhaps most remembered is the inscription on the western panel, which reads:
Tomb Guards
Perhaps as well known as the tomb itself are the Sentinels, or the tomb guards. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Additionally, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge is the second least-awarded qualification badge in the U.S. military (the first least-awarded is the astronaut badge).
Since 1948, all of the Sentinels have come out of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, or "The Old Guard." While they are guarding the tomb, the Sentinels do not wear rank insignia. By doing this, they will never outrank the Unknowns. The Sentinels command silence and respect at the tomb and will confront visitors who cross the barriers of the tomb or display loud or disrespectful behavior.
While they are actively guarding the tomb, the Sentinels "walk the mat" and follow a meticulous routine:
March 21 steps south down the 63′ long, black mat laid before the tomb
Turn and face east, toward the tomb, for 21 seconds
Turn and face north, change weapon to outside shoulder, and wait 21 seconds
March 21 steps down the mat
Turn and face east for 21 seconds
Turn and face south, change weapon to outside shoulder, and wait 21 seconds
The routine repeats until the changing of the guard
The number 21 is significant because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed – the 21-gun salute.
Since 1937, guards have watched over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Sentinels must meet the highest standards of behavior for their entire lifetime. If they do anything throughout their lifetime to disrespect the tomb, they risk their badge. While the Sentinels are usually male, three women have held the honored post.
Permanent memorials ensure a lasting tribute for those who have been loved and lost. They also allow us, as people, to honor those we wish to always remember. Just as we create memorials for our heroes, we also create them for our loved ones. There are five key reasons why permanent memorials are important.
It remembers and respects the dead.
For many of our veterans, a large-scale memorial honors the group as a whole, as is the case with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, headstones, grave markers, or inscriptions set in place by their families honor them as individuals. Both types of memorialization are important and honoring to our veterans and our loved ones.
While all of our World War I veterans have died, we can still remember them and honor their sacrifice. Wreaths Across America takes donations throughout the year, and every December, they lay a wreath of remembrance on the grave of as many veterans as possible. You can sponsor a wreath or volunteer to distribute them at cemeteries across the United States and beyond. Whatever you choose, sponsoring a wreath is a touching way to remember those who gave so much to our nation.
Honoring Our Fallen Soldiers: World War II Memorial
"It is altogether fitting and proper that we gather this weekend [Memorial Day weekend] and in this place to memorialize the people, places, and events that forever changed the course of history and turned back a rising tide of tyranny – when the fate of the free world hung in the balance."
– President George W. Bush at the World War II Memorial's Dedication Ceremony on May 29, 2004
The World War II Memorial was dedicated on May 29, 2004, and was constructed to honor and memorialize those brave Americans who served in the Armed Forces and as civilians during World War II. More than 16 million people served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, including more than 400,000 who gave their lives to the cause. While the conflict began in Europe in 1939, the United States did not enter the war until 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the ensuing years, many Americans applied themselves diligently to the war effort, and ultimately, with many allies across multiple countries, emerged victorious.
It took several years for the memorial to become a reality. In 1987, World War II veteran Roger Durbin first approached a U.S. Representative about the construction of a memorial for World War II veterans. It took a few years, but in 1993, the Senate approved the request. Soon after, President Bill Clinton signed the World War II Act into law. After the Act passed, it took several years to raise funds, finalize blueprints, and construct the memorial.
Located along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., directly between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial stands in stately grace at the former site of the Rainbow Pool. Prominently displayed nearby, an announcement stone declares:
Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln,
one the eighteenth century father and the other the
nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor
those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle
during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to
perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us—
a nation conceived in liberty and justice.
Consisting of 56 pillars, two small triumphal arches, a square, and a fountain, the World War II Memorial was opened to the public on April 29, 2004, and officially dedicated on May 29, 2004.
Surrounding a large pool are granite columns representing each U.S. state and territory at the time of World War II. Additionally, two triumphal arches labeled "Atlantic" and "Pacific" represent the two war fronts.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the memorial is the Freedom Wall. The wall displays 4,048 gold stars, representing the ultimate sacrifice paid by more than 400,000 Americans. Each star represents 100 Americans who lost their lives during the conflict. In front of the wall, an inscribed stone fittingly states, "Here we mark the price of freedom."
It ensures that the dead are remembered and respected.
For many of our veterans, a large-scale memorial honors the group as a whole. This is the case with World War II veterans and the World War II Memorial. However, for individuals, families set headstones, grave markers, or inscriptions in place. Both types of memorialization are important and honoring to our veterans and our loved ones.
If you would like to help veterans visit Washington, D.C. and the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice, consider joining Honor Flight Network in making their mission a continued reality. Since 2005, Honor Flight has flown 180,261 veterans to Washington, D.C., and their important work continues.
Also, the Friends of the National World War II Memorial, founded in 2007, is "dedicated to honoring and preserving the national memory of World War and to creating the next 'Greatest Generation' of tomorrow." To learn more about their mission, visit www.wwiimemorialfriends.org.
Does the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pay for a Veteran's Funeral?
By christy.kessler Plan Ahead, Veterans
How much do you really know about Veterans' Burial Benefits? Do you know how much the VA will pay toward a veteran's funeral? Do you know which benefits you or your loved one are eligible for?
Among veterans, there are a lot of misconceptions about veterans' burial benefits, and it's understandable. When it comes to burial benefits, most service men and women don't really get a good explanation of what they are eligible for during their time in the Armed Forces. Some veterans assume they know what they will receive, and they plan accordingly based on misconceptions. Unfortunately, at the time of death, these misconceptions can make a difficult time even more difficult for their families, creating needless anxiety, worry, and doubt.
Test your knowledge of veterans' benefits by taking a look at the questions below:
Will the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pay for a veteran's funeral in full?
A: No, the VA will not pay for a veteran's funeral in full. This applies to both cremation services and traditional funerals. However, the VA does provide a specified amount, called a burial allowance. The burial allowance amount varies based on several factors, including whether or not the death was service-related, if the veteran was hospitalized at the VA, when the death occurred, and where the veteran has chosen to be buried.
Am I automatically eligible for burial benefits simply because I was once in the service?
A: No, there are eligibility requirements that a veteran must meet to qualify for burial and funeral benefits.
Will my family receive funds from the government in advance of the funeral?
A: In 2014, the VA simplified their program, and now, a flat burial allowance rate is automatically paid to an eligible surviving spouse. However, without notification of the veteran's death, the VA cannot process the payment of a burial allowance. For additional benefits (e.g. plot, interment or transportation allowances), a claim must be filed, processed, and approved.
Are there cases where the VA pays nothing toward a veteran's funeral?
A: Yes. A veteran is not eligible for standard burial benefits if they 1) received a dishonorable discharge, 2) died during active military service (where different regulations apply), 3) were a member of Congress and died while holding office, or 4) were a Federal prisoner.
If a spouse predeceases the veteran, can that spouse be buried at a national cemetery?
A: As a matter of fact, yes, the spouse can (this must be a legal spouse and does not apply to any former spouses). This benefit applies to a living veteran's dependents as well.
Who is eligible for burial in a national cemetery?
A: With some restrictions and eligibility requirements:
Veterans and members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard)
Members of Reserve Components and Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Commissioned Officers from both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service
World War II Merchant Mariners
Some Philippine Armed Forces veterans
Spouses and dependents of veterans
Others who receive specific approval from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Can you reserve a national cemetery gravesite in advance?
A: No, the actual gravesite cannot be reserved, but the family can complete advance funeral planning arrangements. The benefit to advance planning is that when the need arises, the VA merely re-verifies previously submitted documentation. The surviving family does not need to contact the VA directly, but instead, can work in partnership with their chosen funeral home to plan a meaningful service
What does the VA provide for veterans buried in a national cemetery?
A: Burial in any open VA national cemetery is available to eligible veterans. This includes, at no cost to the family:
opening/closing of the grave
a grave liner
perpetual care of the gravesite
headstone or marker
Additionally, veterans are also eligible for a burial flag and the Presidential Memorial Certificate.
What does the VA provide for veterans buried in a private cemetery?
A: Eligible veterans may receive a burial allowance as well as a government-issued headstone (or marker or medallion), a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. However, any spouses or dependents buried in a private cemetery receive no benefits.
Does the VA pay for cremation services?
A: No, they do not, but they do provide a burial allowance for eligible families. The family pays for any funeral costs (including embalming, a memorial service, a casket or an urn, etc.) at their own expense. However, the burial allowance can help toward the overall cost, if the family is eligible. Both cremated and casketed remains buried or inurned at a national cemetery receive the same honors. As with a traditional funeral, the VA will provide a space for burial or inurnment, perpetual care, a marker, burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Does the VA provide burial at sea?
A: No, they do not, but you can contact the United States Navy Mortuary Affairs office toll-free at 1-866-787-0081 with questions.
What is the Avenue of Flags?
A: In some national cemeteries, the Avenue of Flags or the "Avenue of Remembrance" is an everyday feature, while in others, it is reserved for special days of the year (like Veterans Day or Memorial Day). Flags upon flags line the main pathways of the cemetery, each one representing and honoring a life lived in service to the United States. In many cases, the flags flying are burial flags. On the day of a veteran's funeral, the family receives a burial flag, and some families choose to donate the flag to the cemetery, to honor their loved one's memory. The flags create a solemn and reverent atmosphere for those who served our country well. Contact the national cemetery of your choice to ask questions about donating a flag.
Honoring our Veterans on Independence Day
By christy.kessler Exclude from Top Posts, Seasonal, Veterans
This Fourth of July, many will gather for swim parties, burger grilling, and firework displays. We do these things because we want to reflect the American spirit on the day that commemorates the formation of our country. But the holiday also offers us a chance to honor the veterans who have made extraordinary sacrifices in service to this country. To better understand how Independence Day relates to our veterans, we must first examine the history of the holiday.
The Backdrop
The historical event that the holiday is based on, the creation of the Declaration of Independence, occurred during the Revolutionary War. While the Declaration of Independence formally announced the separation from Britain, the seeds of revolution grew over a period of 10 years. Years earlier, in 1765, Britain passed the Stamp Act, which was a direct tax on any material printed by the American colonists. The actual cost of the tax was less disturbing to Americans than the precedent that it established; Britain felt free to impose a level of control upon the colonies that the founding fathers were uncomfortable with.
The colonists resisted the tax, and Britain responded by imposing more taxes. Over the next few years, a pattern began to form: the colonists rebelled against legislation that they found unfair, Britain responded by tightening the screws, the colonists protested more vehemently, and the laws continued to get stricter and stricter.
In 1973, Boston passed the Tea Act. The colonists responded by hurling East India Company tea into the Boston harbor in the event that came to be known as the Boston Tea Party. This act put an even greater strain on the relationship between Britain and the colonies, and full-scale war was soon to follow.
On April 19, 1775, Paul Revere completed his famous ride, warning the American soldiers of the arrival of the British. Hoping to gain military supplies, British soldiers headed for Concord, only to be stopped at Lexington by American gunfire. After a brief skirmish, the colonists retreated, and British troops pressed on to Concord. But at Concord, the colonists gained the upper hand, and the British retreated to Boston. This victory for the colonists marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
On June 11, 1776, a little more than a year after shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, a committee at the Second Continental Congress selected Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of the document that would come to be known as The Declaration of Independence. The committee chose young Jefferson over several already legendary American figures: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
After several changes to the first draft, America released the final document on July 4, 1776. The declaration officially marked America's break from Britain and claimed independence for the 13 colonies. Independence Day commemorates the creation of this document, which outlines American values.
Contemporary Relevance
The Declaration of Independence is inseparable from the context of the Revolutionary War. For this reason, we link the holiday not only to America, but more specifically to American soldiers. The main principles of the document–life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness–are what the American soldiers of the 18th century gave their lives for. Many veterans have since served our country with the same commitment.
Independence Day provides us with an opportunity to remember those who have given so much for their country. The veterans who have served in the spirit of preserving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have made great sacrifices, and we need to take the time to express our gratitude.
Acknowledging Your Service
If you or a loved one are a veteran, we'd like to say a special thank you. We are thankful for your service and sacrifice. Also, we'd like to highlight an important issue that you need to be aware of: veterans' burial benefits. It's important that you are well-informed on the benefits that you are eligible for, as well as the restrictions and limitations that may apply.
Get answers to frequently asked questions, such as:
Will the VA pay for my funeral?
What type of reimbursement or allowance does the VA provide for funeral expenses?
What benefits will my family members receive?
How do I ensure that my family receives my veterans' benefits?
What happens if my non-veteran spouse or child dies first?
Does the VA cover the cost of transportation to a national or state cemetery?
For more information, visit this page.
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OppLoans > News Briefs > Subprime Loans > Insurer Off the Hook in Lawsuit Against Loan Servicing Company
Insurer Off the Hook in Lawsuit Against Loan Servicing Company
Inside Subprime: Oct 30, 2018
By Grace Austin
An insurer is off the hook in a loan servicing company's lawsuit over debt-collecting calls, according to a federal judge.
The loan servicer Loan Servicing is being hit with several lawsuits after customers claim they're being harassed by loan repayment phone calls. The insurer for the loan company, the insurer North America, does not have to pay out under its liability insurance, a Chicago-based judge ruled in early October.
The judge says that's because the loan servicer's conduct violates federal law — the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
The lawsuits' plaintiffs are saying that their privacy was invaded by robocalls to their personal phone lines. The judge went further, saying that one plaintiff's privacy was invaded after the company got ahold of her credit report, and that the loan servicer called dozens of times despite the plaintiff allegedly telling them to stop.
U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras also said the Illinois-based the insurer North America does not have to pay out on bodily injury coverage. That's after one claim that the loan servicer's relentless debt-collecting calls led to a customer's miscarriage.
The insurer doled out several general liability and umbrella policies over six years to the loan servicer, ending in 2016. They declined to provide coverage on the loan servicer, leading the insurer North America to ask a federal judge to declare the insurer off the hook in a declaratory judgment lawsuit. This comes as judges are coming down harder on companies' use of unconsenting robocalls.
The loan servicer Financial is based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and has thousands of employees, with a main focus on subprime loans. It's the largest non-bank mortgage servicer in the country, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
But this is not the first time the loan servicing company has gotten in trouble with the law. Lawsuits from the CFPB and several states last year claimed that mortgage mistakes cost thousands of people their homes. And in 2013, the loan servicer came under fire< from the federal consumer watchdog agency. The CFPB forced the loan servicer to repay millions to borrowers who were foreclosed upon and required the loan servicer to provide more homeowner safeguarding. For more information about subprime loans and predatory payday loans, check out all of our Subprime Reports including Illinois, Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield.


Dad picked me up at 11:00 ish. Studied. Went to mall. Came back and ate. Me and Becca went to see Abby the dog. Baby-sat her. Talked to Ashley, Leslie, Pat, Karen and Courtney. Fell asleep wit Becca and got in my own bed.


to see efforts made to fulfill.
has been forced to quit school.
trants in high school this week.
and the boys by Mr. Finch.
Next Saturday, October 14, the H.
citliens of Heppner on Monday, Oct.
put up for the use of the school.
their banda throughout the day.
as far north aa the boundary Una.
where he waa aceompained by Mrs.
the national convention of the W. R.
to the gallon of gasoline.
C. L. SWEEK, County Chairman.
ty counties, during July and August.
The field inspections were made by E.
R. Jackman, Crop Specialist, and Prof.
ed. In Morrow county 5,180 paased.
those districts adapted to its culture.
acreage of spring wheat certified.
0. A. C. Extension News.
water supply, until further notice.
ness. DR. C. C. CHICK, City Physician.
beloved husband and father, E. w.
sults could be looked for.
ing tourist, was expressed by Pro. E.
wonderful returns to the state.
objection to the big Portland fair.
Gray, which were highly appreciated.
mel and Frank Turner was appointed.
all who can should come early. Dr.
with his situation in this county.
this office or sea wm. Wilson.
The Story Of Good Old Indian Summer.
eral support of public schools.
a place for you at all these services.
We shall be glad to see you.
cratic party for that office.
Mr. Taylor was aceompained by W.
them, so we are informed by 8. E.
tain fees for their work.
ing for the young as well.
tian church will meet with Mrs. C.
ner; Fred Krusow, Grass Valley; V.
Dalles; A. V. Swift, Baker; W. N.
30 short this year. .
be on its way to foreign markets.
around their premises and vacant lots.
charge it up to the property owners.
A ton was born to Mr. and Mrs.
October 9th, at the home of Mrs. Geo.
C. Aiken in this city.
the farm south of lone.
bance is caused among the birds. O.
had suffered much from heart trouble.
office of the County Nurse in L O. O.
year are to be chosen at this time.
Hon. Wm. T. Campbell, Judge, G.
A. Bleakman, Commissioner, L. P.
Duffee, Sheriff, J. A. Waters, Clerk.
lowed as shown by list following.
suing year for Morrow County: S.
Teams T Play Friday, October It.
sionaries only by a 3 to 0 score which .
resulted from a drop kick by Fitike.
which ia almost equally dangerous.
dleton a week from tomorrow.
getting in the fall crop.
and the same has been leased to Chas.
Beach, Calif., in about a month.
Heppner for a short time on Tuesday.
putting the ground in excellent shape.
enclosed before bad weather sets iu.


text:
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U.N. Squadron
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Operation Wolf
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Last Duel
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Wings of Death is a 1990 shoot 'em up video game developed by Eclipse Software and published by Thalion Software, released originally for the Atari ST and then ported for the Amiga. Its working titles were Wings of War and Spellbinder. ... more on Wikipedia
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The parents of a girl who has come to symbolize Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and '80s voiced frustration with the lack of progress on the issue Wednesday — 40 years to the date since their daughter was kidnapped from her seaside town by agents of the isolated nation.
"Why can't we rescue her? I feel very strongly about this," Sakie Yokota, the 81-year-old mother of Megumi Yokota, told a news conference to mark her disappearance.
With dialogue between Tokyo and Pyongyang on the abduction issue stalled, Yokota voiced impatience with the government.
Megumi's father, Shigeru, 85, made a rare appearance, joining Sakie at the news conference at their Kawasaki apartment. Shigeru Yokota currently spends half of each week at an elderly care facility.
Their then-13-year-old daughter was snatched by North Korean agents on Nov. 15, 1977, when she was on her way home from school in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. The tireless efforts of Megumi Yokota's family to find a solution to the issue has made her the most well-known of all Japanese abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.
The government officially lists 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korean agents, but suspects Pyongyang's involvement in the disappearances of other Japanese nationals.
Wednesday's anniversary came amid soaring tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs, with Tokyo and Washington vowing to heap increasingly more pressure on isolated North Korea.
Families of the abduction victims have seen their hopes buoyed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has repeatedly called the repatriation of abductees a "top priority" of his Cabinet.
In 2014, Tokyo and Pyongyang reached an accord in Stockholm on principles for negotiations toward the settlement of key issues — including the abductions — with the North agreeing to report the results of its own investigation into the Japanese abductees.
Those negotiations, however, stalled after Pyongyang repeatedly postponed the reporting.
More recently, the plight of the abductees and their families has drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump — with him even raising the issue in his first address before the U.N. General Assembly in September.
Trump also vowed in Tokyo last week to help resolve the issue in his meeting with abductee's families, including Sakie Yokota, during his five-nation tour of Asia.
North Korea has claimed that Megumi Yokota committed suicide in the 1990s after giving birth to a daughter. In 2014, the Yokotas secretly met in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator with Megumi's daughter, Kim Eun Gyong, now 30.