Congressman Barney Frank
Representing Massachusetts' 4th District

Frank Testifies to Help Vet’s Mother Win Permission to be Buried with Her Son
October 8, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Barney Frank today testified before a hearing of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, requesting that the Committee pass legislation requested by Mrs. Denise Anderson of Mansfield which would allow her to be buried with her son, Army Specialist Corey Shea, who was killed in Iraq in 2008.

According to current law, the spouse or minor child of a deceased service-member may be buried in the same plot as their loved one in a U.S. military cemetery.  Spc. Shea was buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.  He was unmarried and had no children, so his mother, Mrs. Anderson, worked with Congressman Frank’s office to request that the US Department of Veterans Affairs make an exception for her.  Her petition was denied.

Mrs. Anderson asked Congressman Frank if he would help write a law which would allow parents of deceased service-members to be interred with them if the service-member has no spouse or minor children. Congressman Frank introduced House Resolution 761, which if were to become law, would make this possible.

Congressman Frank, who was chairing a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee today, left the chair to testify before the Veterans Committee in favor of this bill.  He asked Committee members to consider the price Mrs. Anderson had paid as they consider the new legislation:

The disproportion between what this country owes her and what she is asking is just as large as can be. She lost her son. She has a request that she would rather be buried with him when that day comes. The disproportion can only be embarrassing.  I hope we can accommodate this.

But the most stirring testimony came from Mrs. Anderson herself, who told her son’s story and asked only that she be allowed to be buried alongside him.

 

TESTIMONY BY MRS. DENISE ANDERSON
BEFORE THE HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Thursday, October 08, 2009


Denise Anderson
Mansfield, MA 02048

 

October 8, 2009

Dear Chairman, Sirs, Madams:

I stand before you humbly asking you to pass or amend this bill number H.R. 761.  This would allow me to be interred with my son, who was killed in action in Mosul, Iraq on November 12, 2008.  He sacrificed his life for his country and I sacrifice everyday being without him.

My son Corey had a heart as big as the world!  He would be the first one to volunteer or help someone in need.  But he would always hesitate to ask for help.  He was a lot like me in that way, but today I show my passion for this bill by standing in front of you asking for your help. If you knew my son you would understand what kind of person he was.  He was a very respectful young man who would do anything for anybody.  He was my heart and soul and I cannot express the bond between us.  If you have children you might understand, but losing a child is against nature and he should be burying me!

I was a single parent until Corey was about 8 years old.  His biological father was not around, in fact he was in prison.  He never paid child support and I worked over 60 hours a week just to support him and make sure he had everything he needed.  Jeff took over the job of step father and Corey gladly accepted him.  When he came home on leave we would stay up till the sun came up, I did not want to miss a minute with him.

My son was killed by an Iraqi soldier.  These soldiers are supposed to be working with our troops over in Iraq.  He was an Iraqi soldier for four years before turning on our soldiers.  On that terrible day he killed 2 soldiers, including my son and wounded 6 other American soldiers. 

I was not home when the army came to my door but my 18 year old daughter was there.  She is a very intelligent person and knew why they were there.  She called me, not telling me what was going on, which was probably a good thing, but when I arrived home the Mansfield police and the army vehicle were parked in front of my hone.  My son had only a month left on his first tour, and he would have been home.  After passing out, the police called the paramedics, who took me to this hospital. 

The whole town came together for Corey.  They were so involved with his funeral and it was very heartfelt.  My son was the only and hopefully only soldier that passed away during this war.  He is Mansfield hero!  I belong to the VFW in Mansfield, MA and I have spoken to many veterans that are members there and they don’t have a problem with me being interred with my son, in fact everyone I spoke with doesn’t have a problem.

This amendment would not be taking up any other deserving space for other veterans, my son has three extra plots, but he was not married nor did he have any dependants, he did not have time, since like I said he was a child himself!

I could speak all day regarding my son and what a wonderful and respectful young man he was.  But I am here to ask you to amend bill number H.R. 761.  If you decide to pass this, it would give me some peace in my life to which I can pay more attention to my husband and daughter, who I feel I have been neglecting.  I could finally be able to move forward in my life just knowing I could spend eternity with my son. 

Please listen with your hearts and amend this bill.  I appreciate your time to listen to me today.  This may be a minimal issue with you, but it means everything to me.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. 

 

Sincerely,

Denise Anderson
Proud Mother of Spc. Corey Shea
My warrior hero!!!! And wonderful son

 

 

TESTIMONY BY CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK
BEFORE THE HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Thursday, October 08, 2009

Mr. Chairman:

Thank you for including today a bill I introduced, H.R. 761, which would give parents of deceased military service members or veterans the same consideration regarding their own burial as is afforded to that member’s spouse or children, as outlined in Title 38 of the United States Code.

This bill would permit a parent whose child gave their life in service to our country to be buried in a national cemetery with that child when their veteran child has no living spouse or children.

While I introduced this bill on behalf of my constituent Denise Anderson, who lost her 21-year-old-son Corey Shea when the Iraqi sprayed automatic weapons fire at U.S. soldiers at an Iraqi military base in Mosul and who is present with us here today, I believe that this request is not infrequent, especially given that we have lost so many young soldiers to war before they were able or willing to establish new families of their own.

The current law considers family members including a spouse, surviving spouse, minor child and unmarried adult child of the veteran.  It also allows the Secretary to designate other persons or classes of persons who can be included.  I do not know whether parents were omitted by intent when the legislation was originally drafted.  I think that we have an opportunity to ensure that they are included under the same considerations as other immediate family members are.

I believe that rather than having the Secretary designate a case like this one on a one-by-one basis, we can honor the families, including the parents, of those who have given their lives for our country by establishing this category into law.

Our country promises our soldiers, including those who lose their lives in war, that their families will be taken care of.  For those who do not have other immediate family members other than their parents, I hope that you will join me in supporting this bill and help it become the law of our fair and just land.