Same-Sex Military Spouse Buried in Nat’l Cemetery - Believed to be the First

[bigtree]

-- In what's believed to be the first case of its kind, the same-sex spouse of a member of the military will be buried in a national cemetery.

"I am deeply grateful to my country for honoring and respecting my years of service and my relationship with Nancy, the love of my life," said retired Lt. Col. Linda Campbell, a veteran . . .

Nancy Lynchild, Campbell's partner, died in December of metastatic cancer.

The Department of Veterans Affairs released a statement, saying Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki used his discretionary authority in the case.

"This was the first non-Veteran partner of the same gender he was asked to consider, this is the first he has approved. It's important to note that the Secretary did not base his decision on the individual's marital status or state recognized relationship status, but rather based it, in part, on evidence of a committed relationship between the individual and the Veteran," it read.

His decision applies just to Campbell and Lynchild; it does not represent an official change in policy.


read: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/15/us/oregon-same-sex-military-burial/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!! n/t

[Heather MC]

2. Cue Westover Baptist Church in 3..2..1.....

[NYC_SKP]

3. Bittersweet news. Fantastic precedent, tragic early death.

[bigtree]

4. yes, bittersweet

I was especially moved by the frank and humane statement from the Secretary. I don't think he could have said it better.

[Coyotl]

5. Hoorah for Oregon!

Avakian and Merkley team up to produce historic win for LGBT military burial rights
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014399845

[central scrutinizer]

6. here's the local article from the Eugene paper

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/cityregion/29446623-57/campbell-buried-couple-cemetery-lynchild.html.csp

[bigtree]

7. thanks, cs!

“I was stunned to hear from them. I was stunned to get the notice over the phone instead of the mail,” Campbell said. “I was in shock. I think my knees went out from under me.”