There's a brewing conflict in the state of Louisiana over who can make and sell funeral caskets.  Louisiana law prohibits anyone but licensed funeral directors to sell funeral merchandise, including caskets.  However, federal law prohibits funeral homes from refusing caskets purchased elsewhere.  The brouhaha began in 2007 when Benedictine monks from St.

When the tragic news about the problems at Arlington National Cemetery began to break, it was first thought that the problems were isolated and in certain locations of the hallowed gravesite.  That is no longer true. 

An article in this morning's Washington Post concerning the cemetery details 20 years of mismanagement and petty infighting among the top officials at the cemetery.  While the casual observer believed the recent revelations about problems at Artlington were new, internal Army documents show the military had been trying to fix systemic problems at the cemetery for years. 

This weekend the Tampa community gathered to pay their respects and honor the memory and dedicated service of two slain police officers Jeffery Alan Kocab and David Lamar Curtis. The services included tributes from religious communities and civic leaders throughout Florida and it all took place in the context of funeral services.  Even those who had no personal relationship with either of the officers came to Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa to pay their respects and honor the service of these heroes in our community. 

In an unprecedented move, Belgian police opened the graves of two former Belgian Archbishops.  According to Belgian police officials, the graves were opened because police suspected they contained potentially incriminating evidence relating to the ongoing Catholic sex abuse scandal.  The action has caused a stir in Belgium and condemnation from the Vatican.  According to the Dallas Morning News, "Investigators also opened the graves of two archbishops in the St.

As I meet with families who've lost a loved one and glance at the messages they and friends write on our Condolences page, I'm struck by the poignancy and beauty of their feelings, memories and words.  These are important, not so much for the deceased, but for the living.  It's an opportunity to be thankful for another human life that made an impact in the community and the family of the deceased.  After witnessing such expressions of love and affection, I'm often left with gratitude for the privilege of having shared in such a moment.

Arlington National Cemetary, first designated for military funerals in 1864, is one of our nation's most hallowed resting places for our military heroes.  It's a sacred place where presidents, soldiers, and prominent national figures are buried.  Yesterday, the Secretary of the Army announced that as many as 200 graves may be incorrectly identified.  In some instances, remains were found in sites listed as unoccupied while in other grave sites occupied sites were listed as unmarked. 

The US Supreme Court will hear a controversial case involving a Kansas Baptist church and the family of a deceased Iraq War veteran whose funeral was interrupted by protests against the war.  Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A.

In my chosen line of work, I often come across families struggling to write an obituary for a deceased loved one.  Most families assume they have to write their own obituaries and submit them to the local newspaper.  However, that isn't the case.  The former television host Art Linkletter recently passed away and was memorialized in obituaries across the country.  Each obituary took a different form and highlighted different aspects of Linkletter's life and career.  Each was written by a professional journalist.  Those who live in the Tampa Bay area may have re

There was an article published by CNBC last week concerning the baby boomer generation and the recent drop in funerals.  According to the CNBC article, funerals and cremations have dropped by 1/3 and stand at a 20 year low.  Demography is blamed since analysts had predicted a rise in deaths and funerals from the baby boom generation.  Curiously, the information which buttressed that opinion was way off the mark.