Washington is stepping in to make sure every veteran gets every honor they deserve.
Right now it's up to counties and sometimes donors to cover the cost of burying unclaimed veterans, but a new bill passed by congress could help.
On September 4, 2012, homeless Army veteran Stephen Doughty gets one final salute at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
Then on October 15, Robert Clyde Varley is also laid to rest there.
Neither brave hero had any one to claim them, so on those days the Central Texas Patriot Guard Riders were their family.
They often pitch in to help cover funeral costs, when there isn't any family to make arrangements.
"We're there for them and it would be nice if we knew for a fact that the funeral homes, or whomever, VA were able to lay them to rest," said Mary Gregory, Deputy State Captain for the Central Texas Patriot Guard Riders Region.
Now The Dignified Burial of Veterans Act of 2012 calls for the furnishing of caskets or urns for veterans with no next of kin.
U.S. Senator Patty Murray, (D)-WA, wrote the bill which passed the Senate and then the House on Sunday.
In a statement she said, "When America's heroes make a commitment to serve their country, we make a promise to care for them."
It's something local funeral director Robert Falcon took into his own hands.
He covered the casket and service costs for Robert Varley.
"Our nation's veterans deserve the absolute best that we can give them," falcon said.
It was the fourth time Robert had done something like that, but the legislation would lift that burden off of him and the Patriot Guard Riders.
"Because they deserve that respect, no less respect than any other veteran," said Mary.
Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
Photographer: Chris Buford cbuford@kcentv.com
