My brother, "Chuck" Charles Puleo, a Desert Storm veteran, passed away suddenly, and spent 9 days in the morgue with NO attempts made to notify his family or even residents at the veteran home that he was transported from, via ambulance.  It took me 7 agonizing days of searching to finally locate him in the morgue. Both the hospital and the morgue failed to contact the Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify his next of kin. His VA identification card was not only in his wallet but was inventoried by the morgue.

Had someone taken the minutes to contact the VA, I would have been notified, and so much unnecessary pain would have been avoided. Yes, we would still be grieving, but the pain of knowing that my little brother laid in that morgue for 9 days, unknown to his loved ones, continues to haunt me.

Chuck was not just a veteran, a number in a system - he was the little brother who annoyed me and my sister constantly, played sports and WWF with his brother; he was a son, a father, a husband (at times), a fierce and loyal friend to the friends and family that were lucky enough to call him theirs.

This heartbreaking experience underscores a broader nationwide problem that impacts countless families of veterans across the United States. When a veteran passes away without immediate family present, hospitals and morgues often lack a mandated protocol to notify the VA and identify the next of kin. This can result in a painful and distressing delay for families trying to locate their loved ones.

This petition seeks to establish a uniform federal law mandating that all hospitals and morgues contact the VA when a deceased individual is identified as a veteran. Such a change would ensure that veterans' families are promptly notified, preserving their dignity and respecting their service to the nation.

Join me in calling for our legislative leaders to take action and establish this critical protocol nationwide. Veterans have dedicated their lives to serving our country, and in return, it is our duty to ensure that they and their families are treated with the respect and care they deserve. By implementing this change, we will be honoring their legacy and supporting grieving families during their time of need. Sign and share this petition to amend federal law so that no family has to endure what mine did. Your support can make a difference in the lives of veterans' families across the country!