The Washington Times reports that the Coast Guard acquiesced to the final wishes of Norwegian immigrant and World War II veteran, Andrew Haines and let the 89-year-old have his Viking funeral on the New Jersey coast when he passed on of natural causes more than a month ago;
“Oh, I was thrilled,” Mr. Haines’ son Andy told Navy Times on Thursday. “I was thrilled when the Coast Guard called and told me we were doing it [his] way.”
[…]
“Burial at sea is not that uncommon. We probably do about seven a year just at Atlantic City,” Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Christopher Fonseca, Atlantic City’s operations officer, told Navy Times. He added that he had never conducted a burial quite like the one Mr. Haines had in mind.
This is my idea of the perfect funeral. Then a big party after.
This is what I would like when I pass. My family thinks otherwise though.
The US Navy will still conduct a burial at sea for any honorably discharged veteran, regardless of the branch of service.
Info here:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/questions/burial.html
My Dad’s ashes were scattered over the Atlantic by a Wing-5 P-3. I knew three of the crew from my VP-23 tour there.
I have a statement in my will expressing my desire for the same for me.
I’d love to have one of the VP-10 birds do the same for me, but they’re all down to Jax nowadays.
We’ll see how it all works out. 🙂
I should look into this for when I go. I won’t take up any real estate, and the sea critters can get revenge for all of their family members I’ve been scarfing down all these years.
Great job, Coast Guard!!
Reminds me of the 1988 Burt Lancaster movie, “Rocket Gibralta.” The family patriarch gets the viking funeral he wished for, courtesy of his grandchildren. Nice movie.
This is why Wagner wrote ‘Siegried’s Funeral March’.
Odin better brace himself: There’s an American marching on Valhalla.
Outstanding. BZ USCG!
Now that’s a different flavor of funeral but to each his own. I am glad the old warrior got his wish. Way to go Coast Guard!
Combine that with a Irish funeral and it looks like a good time.
“… wi’ a bottle o’ whiskey at his feet and a bottle o’ porter by his head …”
ex “Finnegan’s Wake”
Clancy Brothers
The coolness of this is off the scale. Good for him and The Coast Guard.
My wife wants to build a wooden raft, put me on it and soak it with diesel then float it into the pond at my hunting camp then lob flaming arrows into it.
My wife wishes the same for me, but she isn’t prepared to wait until I die. 🙂
My wife wants to right now.
Semper Potatoes! Great job Coasties.
Way to go Coast Guard.
BRAVO ZULU to both Mr. Haines and the USCG! Thank you again sir for your service to our nation I pray we may be worthy.