St. Louis Unclaimed Veterans to Receive Military Funeral

St. Louis, MO - May 30, 2012

Seven veterans and two veterans' spouses whose remains have been in the care of Dignity Memorial® providers for years, yet remained unclaimed, will be laid to rest with help from the Missing in America Project.

Services will be conducted with military honors for the following seven veterans and two spouses at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 7, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Road in St. Louis.

Capt. Chauncey E. Torrence (1920-1973), of Sparta, Ill., served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.

1^st Sgt. William J. Duggan (1911-1997) served in the U.S. Army during World War II and wife Helen M. Duggan.

Sgt. Thomas Lower (unknown-1964) served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Sgt. Charles Workman Rapp (1897-1967) served in the U.S. Army during World War I and wife Leona Rapp.

Cpl. Karl Frederick Jack (1893-1937) served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Pfc. Fred W. Mieger (1889-1946) served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Pfc. Philip Rothenberg (1901-1968) served in the U.S. Army during World War II

"The Missing in America Project has been working with Dignity Memorial providers to identify these forgotten veterans and ensure they receive the honors in death that their service in life merited," said Mark Valenta, St. Louis market director for the Dignity Memorial network. "We're honored to work with the Missing in America Project to provide the dignified military burial these veterans deserve."

Attendees are asked to meet at Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home, a member of the Dignity Memorial network located at 1081 Jeffco Boulevard in Arnold, by 12:15 p.m. to proceed to Jefferson Barracks. A cemetery service will be held for the seven veterans and two veterans' spouses Thursday afternoon, complete with military funeral honors including the folding and presentation of the American flags, the playing of taps and a rifle volley.

The purpose of the Missing in America Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations and to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. For more information, visit www.miap.us.

The Dignity Memorial network of providers has several initiatives to honor and support our nation's veterans and active military. The initiatives and programs include the Veterans Planning Guide, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program, educational veterans seminars and special pricing for members of veterans service organizations.

The Dignity Memorial network of more than 1,800 funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers is North America's most trusted resource for funeral and memorialization services. Dignity Memorial providers offer an unmatched combination of products and locations serving families with care, integrity, respect and service excellence. For more information, visit www.DignityMemorial.com.