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Veteran's Body Left On Display Because Family Can't Afford Fees For Coffin

Veteran's Body Left On Display Because Family Can't Afford Fees For Coffin

The family weren't happy...

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

After fighting for his country in the Vietnam War, you'd have thought this veteran would have been shown more respect. As it turns out, he was shown very little.

71-year-old George Taylor was a US solider who fought in Vietnam and passed away recently, but instead of being put in a coffin he was left on a table.

His family arrived to pay their respects on Thursday, but when they arrived at Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, they found him lying on the table with just a flag draped over him.

The lack of a coffin was reportedly due to an issue with a $9,000 (almost £7,000) payment that was supposed to come out of Taylor's life insurance.

The insurance company allegedly said it needed the death certificate before issuing the cheque.

One family member, Elizabeth Moss, wrote in a Facebook post (along with a photo of Taylor on the table): "This is how friends and family had to see him. I am in total disbelief."

Credit: Facebook

Taylor's son, James, said that although he agreed to the arrangement with the funeral home beforehand, inevitably he did not think it was respectful enough.

He told News Channel 9: "At first we were okay with it but like I told the guy, I said this was very disrespectful to my dad.

"They came to me and told me that unless the $9,000 dollars were paid, they couldn't put him into the ground at the military thing, he would have to sit in the freezer until we paid it or the insurance come through."

David Cummings, a representative at the funeral home, said they were merely doing what the family told them to do. However, he said since the photo was posted onto social media, the funeral home have been receiving threats.

"We were trying to honour the request and let them have some closure by viewing their loved one," he added.

"We serve this community. We love the community. We serve this community in everything we do."

Credit: Facebook

Taylor's body was placed in a casket for a service on Friday after an agreement was reached between the two parties.

It may be wise to start saving the pennies when it comes to funerals. A traditional burial in the UK costs, on average (according to funeralzone.co.uk) £4,146.

The cheaper option, a cremation, costs £3,214.

Funerals can range from the traditional to the more memorable send-off. This man's family decided to give him a final puff of marijuana before closing the lid.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter