Veteran Recovery Program
What is Veteran Recovery
The mission of the Veteran Recovery Program (VRP) is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations; to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.
Contact:
Bill Schaaf, State Coordinator
pgrnysc@gmail.com
The following video was created by the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) following the 2015 Veteran Recovery Program services at Saratoga National Cemetery
Operation: Honor Bound
Marking the End of a 22-Year Journey Honoring WWII US Army Air Forces Veteran Sgt. Gerald W. Zdarsky
Ten years later, in cooperation with Lombardo Funeral Home, Patriot Guard Riders of New York (PGNY) conducted a Veteran Recovery Project mission. The unclaimed cremated remains of 12 veterans were part of that mission, and Mr. Zdarsky was one of those 12. Unbeknownst to the family, his ashes were never scattered; instead, the funeral home held onto the ashes for close to 10 years.
