KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three U.S. national cemeteries in the Kansas City area — Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Scott National Cemetery and Leavenworth National Cemetery — will resume committal services Tuesday, the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System has announced.
“We are pleased to resume committal services and military funeral honors at Leavenworth National Cemetery,” Cemetery Director Konrad Tolai said. “We will also soon be contacting families who chose direct interments to schedule memorial services and military funeral honors, if desired. We appreciate the patience and understanding families have shown during the COVID-19 pandemic and are eager to begin returning to normal operations.”
While interment services have continued, other funeral services and military honors were suspended in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning June 9, the number of funeral attendees will be limited to 10 family members and guests.
The cemeteries also will adhere to social-distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for individuals from different households.
All attendees and employees, who do not count against the 10-person limit, will be required to wear face masks.
Families also may choose a direct interment and opt for a memorial service at a later time when all restrictions have been lifted.
Memorial services will begin in July for veterans and eligible family members who were interred from March 23 to June 8 without the option of a committal service.
Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at (800) 535-1117 to make burial arrangements or schedule a memorial service at any VA national cemetery or Cemetery Director Konrad Tolai at 913-727-1376.
