WEBCAST VIEW OF FUNERAL OF DANNY CARROLL

NCFDA PAST PRESIDENT & NFDA POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

The broadcast of the funeral service for Danny, Raychel and Mallory can be viewed up to 90 days after the funeral at:

VETERANS' MEDALLION AVAILABLE FOR ORDER

NEW OPTION FOR MARKING VETERANS' GRAVES IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased's status as a Veteran. 

"For Veterans not buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery, or those without a government grave marker, VA is pleased to offer this option that highlights their service and sacrifices for our country," said Secretary Shinseki. The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. 

Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will receive a  government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that  cemetery. The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word "Veteran" at the top and the branch of service at the bottom. Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.

More information about VA-furnished headstones, markers and medallions can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmtype.asp. VA is currently developing an application form for ordering the medallion. Until it is available, applicants may use the form for ordering government headstones and markers, VA Form 40-1330. Instructions on how to apply for a medallion are found on the VA Web site at www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp. Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or grave marker. 

The new medallions will be available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment. VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict -- from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried in VA's national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres. 

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. (7.7.10)

PLANNING TO ATTEND THE NFDA CONVENTION?

(October 10 - 13, 2010 - New Orleans, LA)

If you are planning to be in New Orleans in October, there is a chance you can be admitted to the NFDA Exhibit Hall for free.  Give the NCFDA staff a call for details and this is offer is only available for a limited time. 800-616-2332. (6.28.10)

DR. JOHN BUTTS, CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER WILL RETIRE

Dr. John Butts, Jr., the Chief Medical Examiner for the past 23 years, is planning to retire this year. Butts whose office oversees a network of 600 doctors across the state who investigates suspicious or unnatural deaths, will retire July 1, the NC Department of Health and Human Resources announced in a news release. Butts was appointed assistant chief medical examiner in 1975 and became chief in 1987. He also serves on the faculty of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and as an adjunct assistant professor of pathology at the Duke University School of Medicine. DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler appointed Dr. Deborah Radisch, who has served as associate chief medical examiner since 2001, to take over the top job. Radisch is clinical associate professor of pathology at the UNC School of Medicine. (5.3.10)

NCEB DESIGNS PROGRAM TO ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS

BETWEEN FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND NCEB

The North Carolina Eye Bank (NCEB) began a program designed to create and enhance relationships between Funeral Directors and the NCEB. During the months of January, February, and March of 2010 Funeral Directors from all over North Carolina will be coming to the NCEB to observe the consent and donation process and give feedback about the processes at their funeral home. Facilitating this interaction between Funeral Directors and NCEB staff ensures that both parties can run more efficiently and ultimately allow a simple and stress-free experience during a very difficult time for a grieving family.   

This program was created by Fred Jordan, Professional Development Specialist at the NCEB, and has been approved by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service for 3 continuing education credits. The program has already had a fantastic response and here are some of the testimonies:

Please contact Fred Jordan at (336) 705-0253 if you would like to reserve a space in one of the sessions or for more information regarding this program. Additional program dates will be announced based on interest and participation. (2.2.10)

JANUARY 2010 EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

The members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) join with the world community in expressing their heartfelt sympathies to those affected by the earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010.

Numerous members of NFDA have expressed interest in traveling to Haiti to assist with DMORT operations and to help local funeral directors preserve the dignity of those who died. At this time, NFDA staff is working with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Haitian Consulate to determine the type of assistance needed from the funeral service community and when it might be safe to travel to Haiti. Unfortunately, all communication with Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital and hardest hit by the earthquake, has been cut off. In addition, NFDA has been unable to reach an NFDA-member firm located near the capital.

Therefore, NFDA members interested in volunteering in Haiti should call the association at 800-228-6332 (262-789-1880). NFDA staff is collecting members’ contact information in order to keep interested parties abreast of ways they might be able to assist the federal government and funeral service professionals in Haiti, should their service prove necessary. If you contact NFDA, please indicate if you hold a valid passport and how long you are willing to serve, as well as an email address or cell phone number to assist in rapid communication. Members should not travel to the affected areas on their own as conditions are severe; participating in a coordinated effort will make for an effective response to the needs of the Haitian people.

In addition, funeral directors should not contact Haitian funeral directors about shipping bodies once communication is restored. Haitian funeral directors in the affected areas have their own struggles now, and cannot accept bodies at this time.

NFDA is the world’s leading funeral service association, serving 19,000 individual members who represent more than 10,200 funeral homes in the United States and internationally. From its headquarters in Brookfield, Wis., and its Advocacy Division office in Washington, D.C., NFDA informs, educates and advocates to help members enhance the quality of service they provide to families. For more information, visit www.nfda.org. (1.14.10)

YEAR END NFDA NATIONAL ISSUES UPDATE

Please find below the end-of-year wrap-up of all the federal issues impacting funeral service from John Fitch of the National Funeral Directors Association Washington, DC Office (12.30.09):

NFDA Report on Key Federal Issues

NFDA Report on Small Business Provisions

INFORMATION ON H1N1 VIRUS (SWINE FLU)