Fallen U.S. troops cremated at ‘Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service.’
Fallen U.S. troops cremated at ‘Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service.’
Since 2001, the U.S. military has cremated the remains of approximately 200 service members at Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service, a Delaware facility that primarily cremates pets. The practice was stopped yesterday, as the Washington Post reports:
The revelation came to light when an Army officer who works at the Pentagon traveled to Delaware on Thursday to attend the cremation of a military comrade. Offended to discover that the facility was labeled as a pet crematory, the officer sent an e-mail late Thursday night to superiors at the Pentagon that included a photograph of the signage.
The Friends Forever manager said that service members usually dropped off remains and returned the next day to pick them up. The practice is “contrary to the normal procedure,” in which the military is supposed to provide “an escort for all service members killed overseas during transport to the United States, and again after ‘medical processing’ at the Dover mortuary as the deceased returns home for interment.”
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Unbelievable. Indefensible.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:37 pmSupport the Troops, eat a Republican.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:43 pmSorry bastages.
I think this despicable administration would throw the bodies into a ditch, if they thought they could get away with it…
May 10th, 2008 at 7:46 pmBushco treated them like dog shit when they were alive. Why change just because they got run over and killed by the Bush/Cheney/Corporate Greed Express?
May 10th, 2008 at 7:48 pmThe hangings cannot start soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:48 pmThis is an insult to every man and woman that has ever worn a uniform. The audacity of this criminal administration is astounding to say the least.
That have been doing this since 2001?
When the f_ck is Congress going to get off their backsides and start impeachment against the whole (Mal)Administration?
What the hell does it take, for them to start torturing people and imprisoning them without trial?
Oh, yeah.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:49 pmWhat’s next - Solyent Green?
May 10th, 2008 at 7:50 pmBush is on “the cheap” again. That is with the exception of his tax dodging friends.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:03 pmThis is totally disgusting. Again the Bush/Cheney/Dumsfeld war on the cheap displays its utter disregard for the young men and women that they put in harms way.
As a former escort and pall bearer at a number of military funerals I would have shot anyone that order me do escort one of the fallen to a pet crematory.
We need to get control of our military away from those that are willing to use them as pawns in their game of World Domination and Imperialism.
We have waited too long for the impeachments to start. Do it now! This bunch has to wear a big red toe tag through history exclaiming “IMPEACHED” that tells our prodigy of their failure and fiasco that we thought enough of our country and our freedom to impeach the bunch.
“The commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results.” - Major General Gregory Newbold USMC
May 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pmOutsourcing cremation services at Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service serves two main purposes. One, it frees up more money for the war profiters because contrary to the neo-cons wishes, this war ain’t gonna last forever. And two, the superior at the Pentagon owns stock in Friends Forever.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:10 pmWell, what do you expect, the place in north Georgia got closed because they were just stacking the bodies in the woods and sending back cement and some animal bone bits.
Cheap is cheap you know.
deblacksmith
May 10th, 2008 at 8:13 pmWarning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/usercommentfilter/usercommentfilter.php on line 68
TP Admin: If you do not plan to correct the problem with ranking the Comments by Recommendations why not just delete the option? There is a creditability issue here because the problem has been reported for some time.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:21 pmThe DoD can only be bothered to take care of something when it becomes a PR nightmare. A moral violation isn’t enough. A sense of obligation to these families isn’t enough, because to them it doesn’t exist.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:26 pmI second that COB. I, too, would like to see that feature work.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:28 pmOh … my … God …
May 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pmFritz Says:
————————————————————-I think this despicable administration would throw the bodies into a ditch, if they thought they could get away with it…
I wouldn’t doubt that they are doing that and getting away with it–at least for the time being–somewhere.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm“Respect for Life” …..my ass. The Republican party has no more respect for life or for the dead than the man in the moon. This is what happens when you outsource the people at Dover who used to prepare the remains–DOD gave the contract to a company called Sego and it is based in London.
The military personnel used to to this job–not a privately held company.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pmYou have to have a conscious and respect for humanity in order to provide proper services for these deceased military heros. They did their job defending our country and Iraq in a war that should have never been started in the first place. At the very least their remains should be treated with the respect and dignity given any fallen war hero.
Republicans will never understand respect and dignity because they have neither. Another common deficiency is, they have no honor. This is a complete disgrace and outrage. I am truly saddened for the families, of these serviceman, that their loved ones were not given the honorable consideration they deserved.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pmWhy should we be surprised?
BushCo treats soldiers as well as some of my neighbors treat their dogs. Abuse them, ignore their needs, then parade ‘em around the neighborhood when they need an ego boost.
Disgusting.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:04 pmJust when I thought this bunch coulden’t get any worse once again I was proven wrong…This is the most heart wrenching so far….This administration is far more evil than even I had thought they could be..This has to be investigated and put out in front for the country to see. and kept there untill these horrible people are jailed, all of them…..
Thank you Wayne for all you do…Blessings
May 10th, 2008 at 10:05 pmOf course, Bush supporters are silent on this subject.
This is support for the troops, Bush style.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pmHow much do we want to bet some GOP contributor owns this facility and got the contract through some no-bid BS process.
As others said, I am at a loss for words
May 10th, 2008 at 11:11 pmWhat is wrong with these people? Don’t they have any cronies in the human remains disposal field?
May 10th, 2008 at 11:17 pmI have no words.
How could they…?
May 10th, 2008 at 11:18 pmAs an American I am embarrassed and disgusted . . .
As a Vet Vet I am pissed that ANY Military member would disrespect his/her brother/sister and participate in such an outrage . . . but then, the Nazis had no problem finding enough Jews to shovel out the Chambers . . .
May 10th, 2008 at 11:22 pmI can’t wait for Monday to hear what that corpulent, syphilitic, drug and Viagra addicted, pustulent sac and gas-bag, Rush “America’s Junkie” Limbaugh, will say about this!
He’ll say what…? (sound of crickets)
Pause for a second, and try to imagine the holy war of pure self-righteous hell these bastards would have raised if this happened with a democrat in the White House. Just try.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:27 pmFrom the WA Po article:
Well, as long as Gates sends a flunky out to make sure the families of the fallen have his deepest apology, I guess it’s alright. Cuz really, it’s ok to cremate the dead troops in the pet cemetery — doesn’t say you can’t in the rules! Nevermind just dropping the body off like it’s so much dry cleaning — it’s only been going on for SIX YEARS.
Amanda, you might want to put a pink to the WA Po article in your post.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:46 pmOr a link, that would be fine, too.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:46 pmI’ll say it….after Walter Reed and Rumsfeld’s rubber-stamp signature on condolence letters, is this really a surprise? bush never attended a soldier funeral or wanted the coffins to be shown.
bush cut VA benefits and didn’t even give the troops armor (however, he did throw himself a 60 MILLION $$$ inaugural…)
Who would be dense enough to assume any republicans gave a rat’s @ss about the troops over and above the value they have in securing Carlyle their revenue or serving as a backdrop for Cmdr. Codpiece.
Pelosi, Reid and the dems are a disgrace for laying down before such an absolutely dishonorable and opprobrious coterie of cowards. With few exceptions such as Feingold and Kucinich, Waxman and Wexler, the rest should be tried for treason, or standing by while our Country has been discredited, dishonored and shamed.
The only worthy position left for this dem leadershi(t) is as a target for rotten fruit. The republicans deserve harsh prosecution and capital punishment, but I spit on the dems for their spineless capitulation in the face of blatant and arrogant corruption and scandal. Our government needs to be razed and rebuilt, with huckstering jellyfish phonies like Reid and the “Blue Dogs” forever barred from public service.
America 2.0…time to reboot the Country starting with rebooting the King’s royal butt-kissers. (Senate and house votes should reveal these easily enough…) Lookin’ at you Feinstein and Webb! (Webb voted for every one of bush’s funding bills, the FISA screwing and telecom immunity…)
We have no representation!
Jail bush!
May 11th, 2008 at 12:28 amMilitary families have known this but no one cared. I don’t see the American people caring about it either. There is so much more the Pentagon is telling and more horror stories on how poorly our troops are being treated.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:40 amWell said, hanshiro.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:58 amYa Know, instead of being buried in the Auburn, WA veterans memorial cemetary, maybe I’ll have them bury me in the pet sematary.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:13 amQuoted from the Pets Forever Homesite:
May 11th, 2008 at 8:04 am“Your pet is in professional,capable care with Forever Friends Cremation Services. Our experienced personnel and state of the art dedicated facility make Forever Friends the best choice for “Pet Owners” throughout Northeastern Wisconsin.
FOREVER FRIENDS SERVICES
Private,Individual or Group Cremations
Private- your pet is cremated by itself,and the cremains are returned to you in a “TEMPORARY CONTAINER.”
Wonder how much was spent on Jenna’s wedding yesterday, at Bush’s Dude Ranch?
I would prefer to be cremated with pets over RePugniScums any day.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:54 amAny bets on the level of corporate media coverage of this latest debacle? Just as I think this can’t get any worse…..
May 11th, 2008 at 10:35 amIndict, impeach, cremate.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:35 amWonder where Joe waste of flesh Biden is on this one. I haven’t heard him complain about the blackout at his airport, either.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:41 amI’ve left instructions that my ‘cremains’ (that’s what they call ‘em) be glassed under the deck of a long-board. Where that fiery reduction takes place is of no concern to me. By that time, I reckon i’ll pretty much be past caring.
That said, and probably to the consternation of many, it seems to me “Kilo” has unearthed (oy…!) significant data about the story…Bodies are, pretty much, bodies. They are dead. Funeral attendants stole a ring off my dad.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:41 amThought no one in their right mind would try and defend this, and then “Kilo the great” shows up.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:47 amAnyone know a good pet cemetary when it comes to his turn.
If this happened under a Democratic President…
May 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pmBut Republicans support the troops. Anyhow, what if the ashes of your beloved one, died for a fabricated war are mixed with the ones of a teckel or a beagle or a chihuahua?
May 11th, 2008 at 12:21 pmAhem, (pats self on back.)
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is recommending changes in the handling of troops’ remains, after it was revealed that a crematorium contracted by the military handles both human and animal cremations.
A military official said there have been no instances or charges that human and pet remains were mixed. But officials are now recommending that troops’ remains be incinerated only at facilities that are dedicated entirely to humans, in order to avoid any appearance of a problem.
Be proud you’re an American.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:27 am Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
Grossly disrespectful, but what else would you expect from blind-sub-contractor disease?
May 11th, 2008 at 12:24 pm34. Kilo Says:
Seriously, you people are a special kind of gullible to come here every day, read the biased spin you do and take articles without a single source or link on face value…So it really was just the sign that was the problem.
Your blatant bias is showing, Kilo, as you’re guilty of the same spin you’re accusing TP of fostering.
Here are the facts and the genesis of the entirely justified indignation…
First, while TP should always provide the link to whatever article they quote so readers can read the source for themselves rather than take TP’s or any site claim at face value, the thrust of the piece is correct.
This appears to be mainly a question of decorum and dignity to fallen soldiers. In keeping with that thoroughly military protocol, it is incumbent on the military to follow their own rules and treat the soldier’s remains with the utmost deference; that entails consigning loved ones’ remains/cremains in a respectful manner: i.e. a licensed facility which is attached to a funeral home.
Here’s why:
For many soldiers’ families, it diminishes a troop’s service and honor to be treated in so “assembly-line” a manner. Having their dearly departed processed in the same room as people’s pets is an affront. (I’m a pet owner and don’t necessarily share that viewpoint, but the military is duty-bound to show the highest available rules of conduct.) That exempts “multi-species” crematoriums, I suspect.
For example, people would be scandalized if, instead of pets, the crematory incinerated garbage or toxic waste in the same room. Same circumstances, but the perception and concern for dignity shifts…even with a ’sign.’ (Again, I’m a pet owner and am not equating…etc.)
So the thrust of the piece is largely correct, Kilo. Your prejudice is obvious as is your failure to raise any substantive issue. No soup for you…
May 11th, 2008 at 12:32 pmkilo says:
Thanks, kilo for showing how the right-wing mind can completely miss the point of ethical behavior and respect for the dead, especially soldiers who fall in battle for their country.
You never disappoint in showing us the fallacies and shortcome of the reich-wing mindset.
Folks, this mindset is exactly why Republicans fook up everything they touch when they are in charge.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pmThis is very upsetting. I have several cedar boxes with the remains of my pets on the mantle awaiting the choice of a permanent resting place. I certainly do not want the remains of people who probably have the residue of spent uranium shells and other toxic substances used in war in Iraq getting mixed in and ending up in my living room.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:44 pmgreggp Says:
You know, you really shouldn’t be snorting the contents of those cedar boxes.
May 11th, 2008 at 3:09 pmI look at the remains as a waste removal problem. I’m an atheist.
My Will is clear. No ceremonies, no viewing, no stopping anywhere!
Cremate my body (it’s human waste) and toss the “cremains” in the nearest legal landfill.
The saved cash can go to my nephew.
May 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pmwhat a disgrace - and the exposure of this in the press??? - 9 tenths of fu(k all as usual….these pricks get away with anything and everything…how does it happen??
May 12th, 2008 at 2:25 am53. Kilo Says: So I guess all you need to do now is state how it is correct.
I’ll type slower for you, Kilo. The TP article is correct because the WaPo article states the same thing:
So according to the WaPo article, the facility identifies itself ONLY as a pet crematory, not a pet and people crematory. That makes TP’s article perfectly correct.
QED.
Now run along before I taunt you a second time….
May 12th, 2008 at 9:57 amTP needs to fix the link. It references a pet crematorium in Green Bay, Wisconsin…, not Dover, Del. Sloppy work, guys. C’mon.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:22 amThey don’t call em Dog Tags for nuttin.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:19 amWould it ever occur to any of you to investigate this story further? Could the Pentagon have shot first and asked questions later? This is truly a wonderful service to those of us that view our pets as family. The employees of Friends Forever are as compassionate to me the pet owner as they were to me, the daughter when my Dad passed away. This family is the victim of an idiot from the Pentagon. Are any of you aware that a crematory for human remains isn’t open to the public. I can take my pet there but I can’t drop off my spouse, Mother, Father, etc. The crematory for humans is completely separate from the pet crematory. The pet area is not large enough to contain a human body. We are a military town and have the utmost respect for our service members. I personally have several children, nieces and nephews in the military. I cannot believe that people can even entertain the idea that military heroes are being cremated with pets. Then on top of that, you decide that it’s President Bush that is doing this. Whatever happened to the brain cells in this country? It’s scary to think that all of you would jump on the band wagon of this travesty. For your information, both crematory sites have been inspected by our local Air Force and by members of the Pentagon. Their comments??? “Why are we even here?”
June 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pmAs I have just read a few more comments, let me say again, the Pet Crematory is not large enough to hold a HUMAN. Just how stupid are all of you. This isn’t Bush, Cheney, Republican or Democrat. For goodness sakes. READ the article or go to Newzap and look up the article in the Delaware State News from Sunday, June 8. You will get the true story regarding what is happening. The problem is the sign, not the sharing of the crematory. This town honors its fallen. Although returning remains are not available to the media, they are met with an honor guard and ceremony. Get your facts straight.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:15 pm