A U.S. Navy honor guard presents the American flag during a ceremony for three veterans of World War II whose cremains were abandoned for years. The Vietnam Veterans of America, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12, arranged for the cremains to be buried at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Wrightstown. Marcel Matthew Mazedier, George Furek and Robert Edwards Jennings are finally resting in peace.
Almost three decades after their deaths in 1980, 1982 and 1987, respectively, the cremains of the three honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces have been interred at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown.
The effort to move the veterans’ cremains from the Ely Funeral Home, Neptune, to the cemetery in southern New Jersey was a project of the Vietnam Veterans of America, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12, which serves Monmouth County, according to Ernest DiOrio, of Manalapan, who is the organization’s first vice president.
The effort was coordinated by DiOrio, chapter President Dennis Beauregard, and Rob Ford, who is responsible for veterans cremains.
DiOrio said the members of the chapter “felt great satisfaction that we finally got these guys to rest. It took over a year, but everything went well at the cemetery.”
On Aug. 3, members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12, were joined at the cemetery by U.S. Navy and U.S. Army honor guards as the veterans’ cremains were prepared for burial, according to DiOrio.
All three men were veterans of World War II whose cremains had been abandoned years ago. The cremains have been at the funeral home all this time, according to DiOrio.
He said representatives of the Vietnam Veterans of America approach funeral home directors on a regular basis to inquire as to whether the cremains of any veterans are being held. By doing that, the chapter hopes to be able to give a proper burial to other veterans who have been abandoned.
Mazedier was born on June 11, 1906 and died on July 9, 1980. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a resident of Neptune City at the time of his death, according to his death certificate.
Furek was born on Feb. 22, 1921 and died on Oct. 16, 1982. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a resident of Old Bridge at the time of his death, according to his death certificate.
Jennings was born on Oct. 18, 1918 and died on Oct. 20, 1987. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a resident of Neptune Township at the time of his death, according to his death certificate.
Their cremains were never claimed, although DiOrio said the fact that they were at a funeral home indicates that someone had placed the individuals in the care of the funeral home and paid for cremation.
DiOrio said the chapter received cooperation from Michael J. Ely, manager, and Christopher S. Knoll, director, of the Ely Funeral Home for specific assistance they provided during this project.