Dignity Memorial, a network of funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States, recently met with a number of the North Carolina fire and rescue associations to offer a "Public Servants Program".
The Dignity Memorial network wants to recognize "the courage and selfless service of those who keep our communities safe." The program provides a dignified and honorable tribute, at no cost, for career and volunteer firefighters who die in the line of duty.
Death is not a subject we want to spend a lot of time discussing, but it is a reality of life. While we plan for a number of things, funeral planning is an oxymoron. The family of a line of duty death, or any sudden loss of a loved one, is under extreme pressure to make a decision that they are not emotionally prepared to do, but the circumstances require that decisions be made quickly. The "Public Servants Program" offered by Dignity Memorial relieves the financial stress on the family of those who are killed in the line of duty.
Your local funeral home may or may not be a member of the Dignity Memorial network . If there is not a provider close to your home, Dignity Memorial will still serve your family at your local church or fire house to allow the firefighter's family to benefit from the program. Dignity Memorial has the capability to provide the no cost service throughout the United States.
This "no cost" program offered to fire and rescue workers killed in the line of duty is not an attempt to circumvent your local funeral home. Selecting a funeral provider is a very, very personal decision that all of our families must make. This is an effort by Dignity Memorial, through its network of funeral providers, to recognize the service of our firefighters to our State. Traditionally, we use local funeral homes that have served our families for years. Our Association has been assured that the professionals at Dignity Memorial will work closely with local fire officials and local funeral homes that are willing to work with a Dignity Memorial affiliate to provide this "no cost" service for firefighters who are killed in the line of duty.
In addition to the "no cost" service for firefighters killed in the line of duty, Dignity Memorial offers members of our Association:
Our families support our commitment to the profession we have chosen. We can honor their commitment to our service by relieving them of the financial burden and the decisions that must be made under extreme emotional situations.
The Association will be offering informational sessions and additional updates at association meetings and conferences throughout the next year. To learn more about Dignity Memorial go to www.ncpublicservants.com .
Frequently Asked Questions about the service provided by the Dignity Program for Line of Duty or Natural Death of an Association Member
How will the remains of my family member be prepared for a traditional viewing or cremation?
Are my options for the location of the service limited to a Dignity Memorial affiliate?
Can the service be held at a local funeral home chapel if the local funeral home is not a member of the Dignity Memorial network?
If the nearest Dignity Memorial affiliate is a great distance from my community, will my family have to travel to the site of the nearest Dignity Memorial affiliate to select the items needed for the service (casket, vault, urn)?
Why is Prearrangement so important?
Do I have to use a Dignity Memorial provider?