HOUSTON, May 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Memorial Day, Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), North America’s largest provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, and its brand, Dignity Memorial®, once again proudly recognize the courage and selflessness of those who serve our country through its Homeless Veterans Burial Program and Public Servants Program. Since 2000, Dignity Memorial has provided more than 3,000 no-cost burial and funeral services for homeless veterans and first responders.
The Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Program serves eligible homeless and indigent veterans, providing a full burial ceremony with military honors in a Veterans Affairs’ (VA) cemetery or a Dignity Memorial network cemetery in 32 states across the country. Last year, the company participated in the nation’s largest full military honors service for 42 unclaimed veterans in Phoenix, AZ.
The Dignity Memorial Public Servants Program provides honorable tributes, at no cost, for career and volunteer law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency services personnel who fall in the line of duty. The program helps families deal with the emotional and financial burdens associated with the sudden loss of a loved one. In addition to providing burial services, the program also offers extended grief counseling services to family members.
Additionally, Dignity Memorial cemeteries and funeral homes around the country are celebrating Memorial Day with a range of events to honor both current members of the military and fallen soldiers. These patriotic programs focus on military sacrifice and commemoration of our fallen military heroes.
Some of the Memorial Day tributes planned across the country at Dignity Memorial locations include:
- Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, CA will hold its 50th Annual Memorial Day tribute where community leaders and veterans’ organizations will join to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Event highlights include a 50-ft. American flag hung by the Sacramento Metro Fire Department, a T-38 jet flyover, Consolidated Drum Band performances, a presentation of colors by the California National Color Guard, patriotic music by the 40th Infantry Division Band, skydiver performance and military vehicle display including a Vietnam Huey helicopter.
- In Las Vegas, Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery, and Boy Scout Troops 309 and 305 will place over 2,000 flags on the graves of veterans. In addition, the location will conduct a ceremony installing a new flag at the Veterans Monument to honor service members and Troop 309 Bugler will perform “Taps” during the raising of the flag.
- In Phoenix, Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery, along with American Legion Post 1, will host the “Honor and Remember” celebration featuring a field of flags honoring the lives of over 300 local service men and women. The celebration will also include a display of antique military vehicles and a presentation of colors from the Honor Guard.
“Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died in service of our country and these programs are our way of recognizing and thanking them and their families for the sacrifices they have made,” said Michael R. Webb, President and Chief Operating Officer at SCI. “We are honored to provide these veterans and first responders with respectful, dignified funerals and burials befitting their service.”
For more information about SCI’s Homeless Veterans Burial Program and Public Servants Program, visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
About Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of deathcare products and services. As of March 31, 2017, SCI owned and operated 1,500 funeral homes and 475 cemeteries (of which 283 are combination locations) in 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through its businesses, SCI markets the Dignity Memorial brand which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service, and exceptional customer satisfaction. In January 2016, SCI was presented with the J.D. Power President’s Award in recognition of an ongoing dedication to service excellence including quality improvement, customer satisfaction and the development of enduring client relationships. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
As used herein, “Service Corporation International” and “SCI” refer to Service Corporation International and its affiliated companies.