A funeral director who obtains unclaimed remains thought to be a veteran must perform which duties?

• A. Report the name of the Dept. of Veterans Services within a year; after determining the remains are veterans, arrange disposition with a veteran cemetery or Dept. of Veterans Services
• B. Notify the local police
• C. Hold the remains indefinitely
• D. Immediately bury in a non veteran cemetery

Answer: (A)

When a funeral director encounters unclaimed remains that are believed to be veterans, the duties center on recognizing veteran status and coordinating the burial through the state's veterans services system. The director must report the name to the Department of Veterans Services within a year, ensuring the case is documented and tracked with the appropriate authorities. If the remains are confirmed to be veterans, the next step is to arrange disposition through a veteran cemetery or the Department of Veterans Services so the burial honors the veteran’s service and follows established procedures. This sequence safeguards proper recognition of veteran status and access to veteran burial benefits and dignified interment.

Other options don’t fit because simply notifying local police doesn’t fulfill the veteran-focused disposition requirement, holding the remains indefinitely disrespects the need for proper memorialization, and burying immediately in a non-veteran cemetery bypasses the mandated process for honoring veterans and coordinating with veteran services.