Part IV - struggling with the bureaucracy

Part IV- Requiem for Paddy                      

 

                    Struggling with the bureaucracy.

 

Original Message-----

> From: JXMartin 

> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 10:03 AM

> To: Roger Desjardins

> Subject: Veteran's burial

> 

> Mr. Desjardins,

>                         On March 3rd of this year, my brother, Patrick M. Martin, a Viet combat Vet, passed on from Lung Cancer at the Veteran's Hospital in Manchester, N.H. His remains were cremated on 3/4 by the  funeral home in Manchester. He has no family of his own and was estranged from our family these last 40 years.

> 

>                        I called your cemetery a week ago to find the  burial plot information so that I might make a trip to your cemetery to pay mine and my family's final respects to Pat, at his grave site. We are planning to be in that area and had hoped to visit on Sunday June, 26th.

> 

>                      The ashes have not yet been sent to your facility and have been sitting  in the funeral home storage, awaiting some type of payment dispute

with  the Veteran's Administration.

> 

>                        I don't wish to roil any waters. The staff at the  Manchester Veteran's Hospital were wonderful to us during the last few hours of Pat's life, when we were made aware of his condition. They cared well for him during the final months of his life. He died with  dignity in a clean and safe environment, surrounded by people who

cared for him. For that, we are grateful.

 

>                        I don't think it right that my brother's remains  should be held hostage for three months, in some dusty storeroom, over a billing dispute. No one asked for billing information when his unit was  over run and slaughtered in I  Corps, RVN. I would like to see his ashes properly interred, with the respect and dignity due him as a deceased combat vet. If there are any outstanding charges to be covered here, I will pay them myself.

> 

>                       I do have a cousin who  is a U.S. Congressman and who sits on the Veteran's committee, but if I drag him into this, all holy hell might break loose. I wouldn't want any of those wonderful people, at the Manchester Veterans Hospital, to be in any way impacted by this paper snafu.

> 

>                       Would you be able, in your capacity as an employee of the Veteran's Administration, to look into this matter and help  resolve the issue? My family doesn't need any more grief over this issue.

> 

>                        Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

• Joseph Xavier Martin

 

> 

> From: "Roger Desjardins" 

> Date: 2004/06/07 Mon AM 11:09:47 EDT

> To: "JXMartin" 

> Subject: RE: Veteran's burial

> 

> I AM SORRY TO HERE OF THIS, WE AT THE VETERAN’S CEMETERY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE FUNERAL HOMES OR DIRECTORS, WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED BY THE FUNERAL HOME UNTIL TODAY, I SPOKE WITH JOANNE AT PHANEUF AND SHE INFORMED ME SHE WAS GOING TO BRING HIM UP HERE. AGAIN TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE INFORMED BY THE FUNERAL HOME. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY APPLICATION ON FILE FOR YOUR BROTHER SO I WILL WORK WITH THE FUNERAL HOME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN

-

> ALSO, UNLESS THE FAMILY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THE PLOT ALLOWANCE FROM THE VA , THERE ARE NO COST ASSOCIATIED WITH THE CEMETERY. WE RECEIVE THEBURIAL PLOT FEE DIRECTLY FROM THE VA. THE COST YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE FUNERAL HOME NOT THE CEMETERY.

> 

> IN A NUT SHELL THE FUNERAL HOME IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DELAY IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VETEANS CEMETERY. PLEASE CALL ME SO WE CAN DISCUSS IF YOU FEEL THE NEED. SORRY THIS HAPPEN BUT WE ARE NOT INVOLVED. I WILL CALL YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.

> 

> Roger E. Desjardins

> CW4 USA-RET, Director

> New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

> 110 Daniel Webster Highway (RT 3)

> Boscawen NH 03303 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CW4 USA-RET, Director

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

110 Daniel Webster Highway (RT 3)

Boscawen NH 0330

 

Roger E. Desjardins

-----Original Message-----

From: jxmartin

Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 10:23 AM

To: Roger Desjardins

Subject: Re: RE: Veteran's burial

 

Mr. Desjardin,

              Thank you for the very prompt response. I am aware that your NH State Veteran's Cemetery has nothing to do with the process, until the funeral home delivers the remains to you. I didn't mean to

imply other-wise. I was merely asking for assistance, on my brother's behalf, to straighten this snafu out.

 

              When this situation eventually does get resolved, I would be most appreciative if the burial plot information could be forwarded to me, so that I might make proper plans to pay a grave side visit.

 

              Thank you again for your prompt response and concern. 

 

                                      Sincerely,

 

                                      Joseph X. Martin

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: jxmartin 

Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 10:06 AM

To: Roger Desjardins

Subject: Grave site- Patrick M. Martin

 

Mr. Desjardins,

                On yesterday's e-mail, I said that a simple cross, and the abbreviated words you proposed for an inscription, are fine.

 

               In today's e-mail, I was advising you that the funeral home called this morning (Tues. 6/8)to tell me that Paddy's remains had been delivered to your cemetery for interment.

 

               I also offered my family’s sincere Thanks to you for unraveling the bureaucratic tangle. I still plan to visit the grave site on Sunday, June 26th, if your office would be kind enough to forward me the grave site location.

 

               Thank you for all of your efforts, Mr. Desjardins. A legion of sleeping and departed vets tip their forage caps to you.

 

                                                    Vaya Con Dios,

 

 

                                                  Joseph X. Martin

 

 

 

You can help - give me a fax number so when we get the information and hopefully today - I can fax you so you can select a religious emblem (if you want one on the marker) and also you can add some personal lines. Once we get that back from you we will order the grave marker. 

 

I understand how you feel - I wish there was something that could be done that would direct Funeral Homes not to hold remains when they are not paid. I think a law is needed and maybe that is where your cousin can help. This happens to often. In one way I understand they want to get paid for their services but to hold remains?? One must question that policy. Thank you, I left a message on your answering machine no need to call me back. 

 

Roger E. Desjardins

CW4 USA-RET, Director

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

June 8, 2004- from NH Veteran’s cemetery Director 

Thank you. Yes, your brother’s remains arrived here around 9:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter we placed him in his final resting place, although there was no service my staff always pay their respect and we played taps for him.

 

Hopefully you can visit us and come in for a cup of coffee. Our sincere sympathy for the loss of your brother.

 

 

CW4 USA-RET, Director

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: jxmartin 

Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 10:06 AM

To: Roger Desjardins

Subject: Grave site- Patrick M. Martin

 

Mr. Desjardins,

                On yesterday's e-mail, I said that a simple cross, and the abbreviated words you proposed for an inscription, are fine.

 

               You can help - give me a fax number so when we get the information and hopefully today - I can fax you so you can select a religious emblem (if you want one on the marker) and also you can add some personal lines. Once we get that back from you we will order the grave marker. 

 

I understand how you feel - I wish there was something that could be done that would direct Funeral Homes not to hold remains when they are not paid. I think a law is needed and maybe that is where your cousin can help. This happens to often. In one way I understand they want to get paid for their services but to hold remains?? One must question that policy. Thank you, I left a message on your answering machine no need to call me back. 

 

Roger E. Desjardins

CW4 USA-RET, Director

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

110 Daniel Webster Highway (RT 3)

Boscawen NH 03303

Phone: (603) 796-2026 

From:    "RogerDesjardins                   

To:          "jxmartin

Subject:         RE: Grave site- Patrick M. Martin

Date:      Tue, 8 Jun 2004 16:52:54 +0000   [View Source]

 

 

When you enter the main entrance take a left and go straight past the chapel, Section 1 will be on your right. You will see upright grave markers that are 4 feet apart which are for cremations. Patrick M. Martin is in Section 1 Row E Grave No. 612, now all that you will see is a temporary marker unless we get lucky and the grave marker comes in. It usually takes up to 4 to 5 weeks. Thank you.

 

 

Roger E. Desjardins

CW4 USA-RET, Director

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery