{"id":72449,"date":"2020-08-05T15:01:35","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T15:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/08\/05\/continued-limits-on-va-burial-service-attendance-draw-criticism\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:37:42","slug":"continued-limits-on-va-burial-service-attendance-draw-criticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/08\/05\/continued-limits-on-va-burial-service-attendance-draw-criticism\/","title":{"rendered":"Continued limits on VA burial service attendance draw criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An Afghanistan War veteran turned Republican congressman is criticizing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/30\/plan-to-change-va-motto-to-include-women-draws-republican-support\/\" target=_blank>Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a> for continuing to limit attendance at veterans\u2019 funerals due to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/coronavirus\/\" target=_blank>ongoing coronavirus pandemic<\/a>, calling it a \u201cdisservice\u201d to the sacrifices of those former troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But VA officials said some of those limits have already been relaxed, and department cemeteries are simply following state guidelines in an effort to keep mourners and the community safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, <a href=\"http:\/\/caucus.militarytimes.com\/speaker\/brian-mast\/\" target=_blank>Rep. Brian Mast<\/a>, R-Fla., sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie asking for him to allow deceased veterans to receive \u201cthe proper memorial service they deserve\u201d by easing restrictions at the cemeteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/08\/04\/va-coronavirus-total-tops-40000-even-as-active-cases-decrease\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6309534027_eed1b0b84f_o.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">VA coronavirus total tops 40,000, even as active cases decrease<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">More than 2,100 VA patients have died from coronavirus complications since March.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In March, National Cemetery Administration officials<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/03\/20\/va-suspends-funeral-honors-large-gatherings-at-cemeteries-due-to-coronavirus\/\" target=_blank> halted all burial services<\/a> at VA sites in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak. That blanket ban was lifted in June, but most sites still limit gatherings to 10 or fewer individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mast, who lost both of his legs to an insurgent\u2019s roadside bomb while serving with the Army, said he believes it is time for that policy to end, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs you know, dozens of my fellow lawmakers attended a funeral service last week in Atlanta, Georgia to honor the late Congressman John Lewis,\u201d Mast wrote in his letter. \u201cMeanwhile VA\u2019s National Cemetery Administration policy empowers cemeteries to restrict the number of attendees for veterans\u2019 committal services to 10 people \u2014 just a small fraction of those in attendance at Rep. Lewis\u2019s service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf our country\u2019s politicians can gather in large numbers to pay their respects, certainly our veterans deserve at least as much, if not more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The large crowds at Lewis\u2019 funeral have become a political talking point for conservative critics of congressional Democrats, even as Republican House members have fought against proxy voting and remote hearings put in place by Democratic leaders in an effort to minimize personal contact on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA press secretary Christina Noel said in response to Mast\u2019s letter that many VA cemetery sites have begun easing those restrictions, but rules vary depending on different rules in different parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe number of attendees permitted at VA committal services varies based on state and local guidelines for gathering sizes and the ability of the cemetery to accommodate attendees while maintaining physical distancing,\u201d she said. \u201cNowhere will the number permitted to attend be fewer than 10, but many locations are allowing more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The larger goal, she noted, is to \u201censure veterans and their loved ones are cared for properly and are not at risk of contracting COVID-19. All department policies are geared toward that end during this important time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2020\/05\/21\/suicide-risk-for-veterans-could-grow-as-coronavirus-crisis-winds-down\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6148209.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Suicide risk for veterans could grow as coronavirus crisis winds down<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Mental health experts warn that feelings of depression and anxiety will likely outlast the immediate isolation of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many public buildings \u2014 including bathrooms and information centers \u2014 at the cemetery sites remain closed. Families are allowed to place flowers on veterans gravesites, but cemetery staff will not assist in that work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA officials have allowed families mourning the loss of a loved one to postpone any burial services until larger gatherings are permitted. Individuals who do attend commitment services are required to wear face masks and maintain at least six feet of distance from other attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The number of cases of coronavirus has spiked across the country over the summer, but some states have shown signs of leveling off in recent weeks. More than 4.7 million individuals have been infected and more than 155,000 have died from complications from the virus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Republican lawmaker wants VA to lift all caps on how many mourners can attend committal services at department 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