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Unclaimed Cremains Of Three Veterans To Be Buried At Lincoln National Cemetery

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CHICAGO (CBS) -- A suburban funeral home has made arrangements for committal services for three veterans whose cremated remains have gone unclaimed for several years.

Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights held funerals for U.S. Navy veteran George Kratt, who died in 1983; Army veteran Joseph Nevern, who died in 2001; and Army veteran Jerry Lowe, who died in 2007. Ever since their funerals, Glueckert has held onto the cremains, as their families have not claimed the ashes.

"We've done our due diligence, trying to find family members to take possession of the cremated remains, and we were unsuccessful doing that, so we are trying to give these three veterans a proper burial," co-owner Jackie Glueckert.

The funeral home has taken it upon itself to hold memorial services, with full military honors, and to lay the remains to rest at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Glueckert said each man served his country, and has earned the right and privilege to be honored.

"The funerals were handled by the funeral home, at the time that the deaths occurred. For whatever reason, family members didn't come back and take claim of these cremated remains, and it could be for any number of reasons," said.

The services have been scheduled for June 24, starting at 12:30 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

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