Hearse with flag-draped coffin left in parking lot

Army Times — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:14:24 -0400

From: Army Times

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) - Two Florida hearse drivers have been fired after they stopped at a doughnut shop with a flag-draped coffin in the vehicle on the way to a funeral and an outraged man sent a video to a local veterans group.

Multiple news outlets report Rob Carpenter spotted the hearse in the parking lot of a New Port Richey Dunkin' Donuts on Tuesday with its curtains open and the coffin visible.

In the coffin was the body of 84-year-old Ltc. Jesse Coleman, a decorated soldier who served in Korea and Vietnam. The hearse was transporting him from Clearwater's Veteran's Funeral Care to his funeral.

Carpenter confronted the driver and sent images to Veteran's Warriors. The group posted the images to Facebook.

Funeral home director Jim Rudolph says he has fired the men.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/news/local/2015/05/13/hearse-flag-draped-coffin-coffee/27225591/

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 11:22 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:22:56 -0400

This is a disgrace &, from what I understand, the drivers were punished.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made May 14 at 2015 12:29 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 14 May 2015 12:29:30 -0400

I see nothing wrong with this, and people are over reacting, I think people need to see that veterans/service men and women are dying. It is a shame that you can draw the curtains and cover up our final end but to show our reality becomes an offense, perhaps that is why a veteran/service men or women takes their life because we live in the shadows where we can easily be forgotten or dismissed.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 12:42 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2015 12:42:21 -0400

If they had gone on their doughnut and coffee run well ahead of time (note that a quick stop before a funeral is not 'well ahead of time') WITHOUT a dead body, then there'd be no issue. But the whole image looks bad and distasteful: a horribly parked hearse, with an American flag over a casket, sitting asymmetrical in the parking lot of a doughnut shop en route to a fhneral procession. Yeah.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 5:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2015 17:15:44 -0400

It was a f***king disgrace because of their actions.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made May 19 at 2015 4:51 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 19 May 2015 16:51:48 -0400

SHAME ON THESE PEOPLE!!!

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/05/13/pkg-hearse-driver-stops-for-food.wfts/video/playlists/stories-that-shock/

These people just set a new low in disrespecting veterans. Right now, I'm pissed off purple.

You won't believe what this hearse driver did - CNN Video

CNN affiliate WFTS reports that a hearse driver and funeral home director were caught stopping for food while a veteran's casket was inside the hearse.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made May 20 at 2015 4:08 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 20 May 2015 04:08:11 -0400

Inappropriate. Uncool. Disrespectful. Then again, many civilians see their job as work and don't think much beyond their paystub. As service members and veterans we know better and hold ourselves to a much higher standard. These were probably 2 jackholes getting paid $10/hr to take some dead guy to the dead guy place. Now they are getting payed for collecting unemployment.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 20 at 2015 5:52 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 20 May 2015 05:52:03 -0400

Completely disrespectful. It doesn't matter if it's a veteran or not. This is disgusting, shocking, unbelievable I can go on. I hope this funeral home holds these morans accountable for their actions and they to should be help accountable to an extent since they hired these two sh1t for brains!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made May 20 at 2015 8:27 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:27:49 -0400

At what point was any of this a good idea? I can't find one.

Response by 1SG John V. made Jun 26 at 2018 7:36 PM

1SG John V. — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 19:36:21 -0400

From what I can tell this isn’t a case of transporting remains a long distance and stopping for a break. This is transporting remains to the funeral. Totally unacceptable. They could have waited a bit longer for coffee and donuts...or had it before leaving the funeral home with the remains.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 26 at 2018 7:42 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 19:42:57 -0400

Stupid!

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jul 18 at 2018 7:09 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 19:09:23 -0400

Maybe if one of the two went and got the snacks itbwouldn’t Have gone as hard on the two.. instead of being fired they’d of posssibly have gotten reprimanded..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jul 18 at 2018 7:11 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 19:11:50 -0400

Expensive coffee ‘n’ doughnuts, eh?