Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) was in Buffalo on Friday to introduce the "Honoring Our Heroes Act", which allows the families of veterans who died before Nov. 1, 1990 to request a government-issued headstone.
Families of veterans who died before Nov. 1, 1990 are currently ineligible to request a government-issued headstone from the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), an agency within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prior to 1990, families of deceased veterans were eligible to receive a headstone from the NCA upon request. This was changed in 1990 in a Budget Control Act, also known as reconciliation, as a cost control measure.
"“Our servicemembers have made enormous sacrifices for our country. Our nation owes it to our fallen heroes and their families to provide a tribute at their final resting place befitting their service," said Congressman Kennedy on Friday. "The 'Honoring Our Heroes Act' will allow families to request a government-issued headstone at no cost, for loved ones who served, regardless of the year they passed. I especially want to thank Jody Mellerski, who took up the fight to properly commemorate her father, Technical Sergeant Florian J. Fenclau - a World War II veteran, prisoner of war, and recipient of the Purple Heart. I now urge my colleagues to take up my bill to honor our heroes across the country."
Florian J. Fenclau was born in 1921 in Erie County, New York. He joined the U.S. Army on Aug. 12, 1942, and went on to serve in World War II with the 418th Technical School Squadron, 326th Bomber Squad, and 92nd Bomb Group.
While serving overseas, he was a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 when it was shot down on Oct. 4, 1943. He was then placed in a Prisoner of War (POW) camp at Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug, which is near Heydekrug, East Prussia with 20 other American POWs.
Fenclau remained there until Sept. 22, 1944, when he was returned to the U.S. Military with bullet wounds in his arm that never fully healed. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on Nov. 8, 1945, and later passed in 1979.
His daughter, Jody Mellerski, a resident of Amherst, brought this issue to the attention of the Office of Congressman Kennedy, after which Kennedy introduced the "Honoring Our Heroes Act".
"My father served our country in World War II as a part of the Greatest Generation. He was a Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 when it was shot down on Oct. 4, 1943, after which he became a Prisoner of War (POW). He posthumously received eight military medals for his service, including the Prisoner of War Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal. However, he does not have a military grave marker because veterans who passed away prior to 1990 are not entitled to any such recognition," said Mellerski on Friday. "I thank Congressman Kennedy for introducing the 'Honoring Our Heroes Act', which will right this wrong and allow my family and others to recognize their loved one’s service."
The "Honoring Our Heroes Act" has endorsements from the following organizations:
- American Legion
- Western New York Heroes
- WNY Hispanic American Veterans Memorial Inc.
- Military Order of the Purple Heart, Buffalo Chapter 187
- Gabriel A. Rodriguez American Legion Post 1928 Auxiliary
- WNY Gold Star Mothers, Chapter 26
- Dr. Kanasha L. N. Blue, Commander Jesse Clipper, American Legion Post No. 430
- Henry Jernigan, Commander Bennett-Wells, American Legion Post No. 1780
- Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 77 Western New York
- Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24
- Veterans One-stop Center of WNY
- African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation
- Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
"This bill is a symbol of respect and appreciation for our Veterans. They did their part, now it's time to do ours," added Paul Marzello, president and CEO at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.
Kennedy is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.