Pam, it should always be this way. I would bet most people who read this message board know of at least one ancestor who died during war service and did not get a grave marker. One more reason to pay tribute when a soldier's grave is finally found.

It is a little off topic, but I always thought a formal buriel at sea was about as heart wrenching a ceremony as I would ever want to watch. The paradox of paying final respects to a comrade and knowing his remains will be at the bottom of the sea forever with no marker...never to return home.

My dad served in the Navy during WWII and he told me a lot of stories. It always surprised me that he liked to speak about the combat, but when I asked him about the buriel at sea, he acknowledged the ceremony took place from time to time and said nothing more. That was a clear message not to ask again. In retrospect, it was a bad question, too personal.