SUFFOLK, Va. — Solemn honors are rendered to a group of selfless military veterans.
Not only did they serve their country once, while alive and in uniform. But they served a second time in death.
The Commonwealth of Virginia saluted them Thursday at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services gave full military honors and interred the cremated remains of 21 U.S. military veterans and one military spouse who gave their bodies to science.
Prior to passing away, the 22 heroes decided to participate in the Virginia State Anatomical Program which accepts donations of human bodies for scientific study.
The primary mission of VSAP is to educate health professionals by providing human remains for the teaching of anatomy and surgery and medical research to the State's medical schools, colleges, universities and research facilities.
The honorees, who included two women vets for the first time, plus, two Bronze Star recipients, had their names read aloud individually, before their cremains entered into their final resting place.
"Doesn't matter if we know them or not. They're our brother and sisters. this is our family," said Mike Nugent, Patriot Guard Riders Ride Captain.
Daniel Gade, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services said: "And so it was our honor today to lay these veterans to rest in this beautiful; place in honored glory where they'll be with their colleagues forever."
The Horton Cemetery is open to the public for visitation every day during daylight hours, including weekends and holidays.