           
The New Jersey Mission of Honor is solely comprised of volunteers from various Veteran Organizations and non-profit groups.
THIS WE PROMISE:
· We are Vietnam War Veterans who have dedicated themselves to the service of Country and State and our National Motto is:
“Never Again will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another”
· We along with other veteran groups will Identify, Honor and Inter unclaimed, abandoned and cremated veterans and secure remains of future abandoned or orphaned veterans.
· We will assure that all era orphaned and abandoned veterans will receive a military burial in a Federal or State Cemetery with respect and honor.
· We will do our best to identify and locate any and all cremains of veterans through our members, citizen volunteers and other military organizations.
· We will along with our Honor/Color Guard and with the assistance of funeral directors and the motorcycle guard deliver the cremains of the veteran for proper burial.
· We will make sure that never again will any veteran be buried without being given the full honors of a hero!
P.L. 2009, c.14
Approved February 4, 2009
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 2613
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
213th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MAY 12, 2008
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JACK CONNERS
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman CHARLOTTE VANDERVALK
District 39 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen O'Scanlon, Van Pelt, Vas, Moriarty, Conaway, Senators Van Drew, Madden, Adler, Stack, Vitale and Allen
SYNOPSIS
Provides veterans’ organizations right to receive unclaimed veterans’ cremains after one year.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on June 12, 2008, with amendments.
An Act concerning unclaimed veterans’ cremains, amending P.L.1983, c.385 and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1983, c. 385 (C.26:7-18.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. [A] a. Except as provided by subsection b. of this section, a person may dispose of the cremains of a dead human body which have not been claimed by a relative or friend of the deceased within one year from the date of cremation upon certification, to the commissioner's satisfaction, that a diligent effort has been made to identify, locate and notify a relative or friend of the deceased within that one year period. A diligent effort shall include a certified letter, return receipt requested, mailed to the person who authorized the cremation.
As used in this section, "cremains" means that substance which remains after the cremation of a dead human body.
b. A funeral director, licensed pursuant to P.L.1952, c. 340 (C.45:7-32 et seq.), 1[may] shall1 grant a 1qualified1 veterans’ organization the right to receive the cremains of a veteran which have not been claimed by a relative or friend of the deceased within 1[six months] one year1 after cremation upon certification, to the commissioner’s satisfaction, that a diligent effort 1, as defined in subsection a. of this section,1 has been made to identify, locate and notify a relative or friend of the deceased within that 1[six month] one year1 period.
1A qualified veterans’ organization which takes possession of cremains pursuant to this section shall dispose of the cremains by scattering them at sea or by interring them on land in a dignified manner at the State-operated, Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, if the individual is eligible for interment at that facility.
As used in this section, "qualified veterans’ organization" means a veterans’ organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans’ Service Organization.
c. A funeral home or mortuary, or an agent of the funeral home or mortuary, or a funeral director, or qualified veterans’ organization, shall not be liable for damages in any civil action arising out of the disposal of cremains pursuant to this section unless the damages are the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct .1
(cf: P.L.1983, c. 385, s. 2)
2. (New Section) 1a.1 A funeral director, licensed pursuant to P.L.1952, c 340 (C.45:7-32 et seq.), 1[may] shall1 grant a 1qualified1 veterans’ organization1, as defined in subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1983, c.385 (C.26:7-18.2),1 the right to receive the cremains of a veteran which have not been claimed by a relative or friend of the deceased within 1[six months] one year1 after cremation upon certification, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, that a diligent effort1, as defined in subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1983, c.385 (C.26:7-18.2),1 has been made to identify, locate and notify a relative or friend of the deceased within that 1[six month] one year1 period, as provided under section 2 of P.L.1983, c.385 (C.26:7-18.2).
1A qualified veterans’ organization which takes possession of cremains pursuant to this section shall dispose of the cremains by scattering them at sea or by interring them on land in a dignified manner at the State-operated, Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, if the individual is eligible for interment at that facility.
b. A funeral home or mortuary, or an agent of the funeral home or mortuary, or a funeral director, or qualified veterans’ organization, shall not be liable for damages in any civil action arising out of the disposal of cremains pursuant to this section unless the damages are the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.1
3. This act shall take effect on the 1[60th] first1 day 1of the fifth month1 after enactment.
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