Mark Kimble
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08)
1661 N. Swan Road, Suite 112
Tucson, AZ 85712
520.881.3588
Fax: 520.322.9490
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NEWS ADVISORY
April 18, 2011
CONTACT
C.J. Karamargin
Communications Director
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
(520) 881-3588
U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS’ STAFF MEMBER WILL PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONY TO INTER VETERANS’ REMAINS
Missing in America Project will honor homeless and indigent veterans with motorcycle procession from Tucson to Sierra Vista
TUCSON – A staff member from U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office will be among scores of motorcycle riders who will travel from Tucson to Sierra Vista to inter the remains of more than a dozen indigent and homeless veterans.
The April 25 ceremony will be conducted by the Arizona chapter of the Missing in America Project. The national organization locates, identifies and inters the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country.
“We are committed to leading the joint efforts of many veteran groups to bury unclaimed vets with respect, so their mission can be complete,” said Bob Day, Arizona state coordinator for MIAP. “It is similar to ‘No Man Left Behind’ in battle. We believe no veteran should be forgotten, and that each deserves to be laid to rest with honor for their contribution to our freedom.”
On April 25, the cremated remains of 18 veterans will be transported from Tucson to the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista for interment. The remains of one of the veteran’s wife also will be interred.
One of the veterans died in 1983 and his remains have been stored since then on a shelf in a Southern Arizona mortuary, Day said. Another veteran died as recently as February.
Escorting the hearse carrying the cremains will be several hundred motorcycle riders, including Amanda Sapir, a constituent services representative in Giffords’ Tucson office.
During the ceremony at the Sierra Vista cemetery, the flag covering the remains of one veteran will be presented to Sapir to be given to Giffords, who is recovering in a Houston hospital after she was shot in the head Jan. 8.
Media is welcome to attend.
Tags: escort, funerals, MC, memorial service, MIAP, Riding club, veterans