The Neal Thomas Jr. Centennial American Legion Post 209 Honor Guard was afforded the privilege to support a unique event this month: a green burial. Green burials are an increasing choice for many when planning for funeral services and interment. This includes a growing number of veterans, enough that Congress passed a law allowing for the establishment of green burial sections in national cemeteries. From the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) website:
• “Generally, "green burial" refers to more environmentally friendly methods of burial that refrain from the use of chemicals, concrete vaults and other non-biodegradable materials. These methods are also referred to as "natural burial." For more information about green burial, you may wish to visit the Green Burial Council’s website (https://www.greenburialcouncil.org).
• “Congress gave VA the authority to establish green burial sections in its national cemeteries through Public Law (P.L.) 117-355, the National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022. VA sought this authority so it could provide a more environmentally sustainable burial option for veterans and their eligible dependents in national cemeteries.”
• “NCA will maintain green burial sections to have a natural appearance and will use native grasses and plants to differentiate them from other sections in the cemetery. NCA will mark the gravesites in green burial sections with a flat granite marker that is distinct from other markers in the national cemetery to complement the section's desired natural appearance and to be consistent with green burial practices.”
• “In November 2024, VA’s NCA officially opened green burial sections at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colo., the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, and Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. The number of green burial sites at each cemetery are 152, 155 and 222, respectively.” (https://news.va.gov/)
On Jan. 6, 2025, as one of the first three national cemeteries with a green burial section, the Pikes Peak National Cemetery held the first green burial in a national cemetery. The Post 209 Honor Guard was requested to provide the rifle volleys for Army veteran Gerald Riley’s final honors. In addition to local organizations (e.g., the Honor Bell Foundation), there were individuals from Washington, D.C., in attendance, signifying the important step in the NCA’s implementation of green burials.
