The Arkansas Veterans Memorial Tribute Program will honor 33 recently identified veterans and one family member in its first service at 10 a.m. today at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave. in North Little Rock.
The veterans served in all branches of the military and during different eras. Three peacetime, two Persian Gulf War, four World War II, four Korean War, and 20 Vietnam War veterans will be honored, Sheila Beatty, head of the Arkansas Veterans Memorial Program, said in a news release.
Three of these veterans served multiple eras, but they were listed by their earliest service period.
"Veterans sometimes die without family to claim them," Beatty said. "This program works to marshal local, state and federal resources to assist in identifying unclaimed veteran remains. It takes a lot of effort and hands to identity an unclaimed veteran. Coroners, funeral home directors and volunteers have been working to identify unclaimed Arkansas veteran remains. Volunteers used genealogical research methods when possible, and ADVA Cemetery Director Mada Holt Stanley worked to verify veteran status."
The event is open to the public and will be Facebook livestreamed from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs Facebook page.