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GLENNVILLE, Georgia (WJCL) — A Claxton family is fighting for one final honor for a Vietnam veteran—but says a 50-mile rule is standing in the way.
Tommy Everage died last week after spending 20 years serving his country. His family says they wanted a rifle salute as part of his funeral honors, but were told the Navy at Kings Bay could not provide one because the burial site is more than 50 miles away.
Everage’s nephew, Andrew Anderson, says the decision has been especially frustrating given his uncle’s military service: “That’s just a slap in the face from the Army.”
According to Everage’s obituary, he served 12 years in the U.S. Army, including two combat tours in Vietnam. He received three Purple Hearts and an Air Medal before transferring to the U.S. Navy, where he served another eight years.
Anderson says his uncle was committed to serving his country.
“He wanted to give back to his country and do something,” Anderson said.
Family says 50-mile rule is preventing rifle salute
Everage’s family planned to bury him at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville.
As they made funeral arrangements, they requested a rifle salute.
Anderson says they were told the Navy at Kings Bay could not provide the rifle detail because the cemetery is outside a 50-mile service radius.
“The roadblock we’ve run into is the Navy out of Kings Bay states there’s a 50-mile radius, minimum service because he’s being buried more than 50 miles away from Kings Bay,” Anderson said. “They can’t provide the rifle detail.”
Kings Bay provides military funeral honors in the area.
WJCL 22 reviewed the Department of Defense’s funeral honors policy, which includes provisions for reimbursing travel when funeral honors personnel must travel more than 50 miles.
Anderson also says he was told the Army could not provide the honors because Everage’s final branch of service was the Navy.
Federal law, however, allows members of another branch to participate in military funeral honors.
What military funeral honors include
Federal law requires eligible veterans to receive a military funeral honors ceremony that includes at least two uniformed military members, the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps.
A rifle salute is not part of the minimum funeral honors required by federal law.
But Anderson says the fact that a rifle salute is not required should not mean veterans who want one cannot receive it.
“That shouldn’t matter what branch the veteran served in,” Anderson said. “It should be a right that every veteran gets at least three volleys.”
Anderson says he is now pushing for changes beyond his uncle’s funeral.
“I’m not just doing it for my own. I’m doing it for all veterans,” he said.
He says he has spoken with other families who expected a rifle salute as part of their loved one’s funeral, only to learn that it was not guaranteed.
“They leave just as disappointed,” Anderson said.
Other veterans offer to help
Everage’s family says the effort to provide a rifle salute has gained support from other veterans.
The VFW in Brantley County has offered to help provide the rifle salute, according to Anderson. The funeral home says other veterans have also offered to step in.
Everage is scheduled to be buried at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville.
WJCL 22 reached out to Kings Bay for an explanation of the 50-mile restriction and to ask whether another military branch could provide the requested rifle salute.
A Kings Bay liaison said someone would return our call, but no response had been received by the time of broadcast.
The family says its goal is simple: to make sure Everage receives the final tribute they believe he earned after two decades of military service.
Everage’s obituary can be found through Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home.
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