I am really hoping that he will be placed in a VA cemetery. Much of the cost of that is free to veterans. His daughter did say that she had called the VA cemetery near her to find out what is involved. Burying cremated remains in the military cemetery is cheapest. With a body in a casket, there is the expense of transporting the body. She seemed to be trying to reassure me when she said that, even with cremation, there can be a military funeral with honors at the VA cemetery.

That's fine. I hope they do provide a last resting place there, whether he is in a casket or in an urn. Throwing ashes off the side of a boat violates my own religious beliefs, but they can do what they want.

My main concern, now, is that he get the service in church, which it sounds like she isn't really planning. Also, I want to see him go into the church in a casket, with his body in one piece, which is preferred in our religious tradition (Catholic.) Flying him back to where his children live, in one piece, starts to get costly, which is why I guess she wants him cremated out West where we live.

Once there is a cremation, I'm not going to go near anything they do. They don't need me there. I will not touch, or even look at, a container with cremated remains. That is just my own personal feelings.