On a separate note, a new co-worker joined my department last year from working in the restaurant industry. He is 40-ish, cute but straight, divorced with a boy in early elementary, and from Chicago. I repeat, Chi-CA-go.
His father died a couple of weeks ago and the family gathered to lay him to rest in a cemetery with full military honors. Can't remember what his rank was, but he was Navy, and when the family got to the cemetery, the Navy had screwed up and there was no color guard, no flag ceremony, no music, no salutes, no nothing. The kids were understandably devastated, as the man's military career had been his life.
So, they didn't inter the ashes, awaiting the proper ceremony. The woman who had twice confirmed the date with them and time, just apologized but babbled on about forgetting, etc. It wasn't a COVID reason, just typical bureaucratic failure.
He told me about the issue last week when we conferred on the phone about work. He was irked, as his family had travelled from Chicago and other points, about a dozen of them, maybe 17, now that I think about it, and went to all that expense of travel to Florida, only to not have the ceremony. He was frustrated and unsure of how to get it handled. I told him to call the U.S. Senator for the state where his father lived, which was Florida, and explain. And I told him it wouldn't hurt to contact both senators if the first didn't respond.
So, he did. Not sure if he left a message or emailed, but they called the next day. I was sure they would, as slighting veterans is a no-no unless you're orange.
I'm glad he's getting some help. It made him feel like someone cared about his dad.
