Meng Helps Queens Funeral Home Receive Reimbursements for Providing No-Cost Funerals for Indigent Veterans
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she has cut through government red tape to help a funeral home in Middle Village, Queens receive reimbursements for providing no-cost funerals for indigent veterans.
For several years, Anthony Martino, owner of the Hess-Miller Funeral Home, has provided burials-funeral services free of charge for indigent veterans who have no next of kin.
Since June 2015, Martino submitted 21 claims to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in an effort to recoup some of the expenses that he personally paid out of pocket. All of his claims were denied and put under appeal.
Martino contacted Meng’s office and the Congresswoman intervened with the VA, urging the agency to re-review his claims. As a result, all of them have been approved. He has received checks for 20 of the claims which total $12,040, with one more claim still pending. He spends $1,345 for each veteran’s funeral and receives approximately half in reimbursement.
“Anthony Martino has provided an honorable service to indigent veterans and we thank him for his thoughtful contributions,” said Meng. “I was troubled to learn that his efforts to receive reimbursements for some of the costs got stuck in the federal bureaucracy, but pleased that we were able to help arrange for his claims to be approved. I thank the VA for being responsive to my request for his generous efforts.”
Martino provides full military honors for each funeral including a color guard and an American flag, as well as a coffin. He also arranges for a local florist to donate red, white and blue ribbons and flowers for each veteran.
Prior to 2015, Martino received some reimbursements from New York City’s Department of Social Services. But he said that the City’s rules changed, so he started submitting claims to the VA.
According to Martino, he has provided funerals at no-cost for 150 veterans since he began the service in 2008.
The Hess-Miller Funeral Home is located at 64-19 Metropolitan Avenue, corner of 65th Street.