MEAD, Wash. — A North Spokane County widow is devastated after she says a claim for help covering final expenses for her veteran husband was denied.
The denial letter even began by extending gratitude for her late husband’s ‘honorable service,’ but added because he didn’t meet the criteria, she would be getting nothing when it came to a burial allowance.
She is sharing her story in hopes of helping other families know about the process, what’s required, and other resources available to try to help.
Heather Bare and her husband, Charles ‘Ron,’ shared nearly 30 years of love and life. She says his two greatest passions were fishing and our country.
“Very (patriotic,) very,” she said. “Always the flags (she said of his favorite tie.)”
From a young age, Heather says Charles, who loved ones referred to as ‘Ron,’ felt a pull to serve in the Army.
She loved hearing his stories, and how his service helped shape the trajectory of his life.
“He took advantage of the GI bill,” she said.
Heather says he always worked incredibly hard, even through some pain.
“From all the jumps, his knees were shot and the hips…he had a hip replacement,” she said. “He lost his hearing in his right ear from mortar fire.”
Injuries she believes can be traced back to his years in the Army.
“He did but he didn’t apply for benefits based on those,” she said. “Here was always his philosophy, he never wanted to take away benefits from those who needed them more.”
But there was one benefit Heather says he was adamant she pursue. One he figured was a guarantee. She says they even discussed how she would seek burial benefits in his final days.
“He said call the Army…he said they will reimburse you up to a certain amount,” she said.
Charles ‘Ron’ Bare passed away peacefully in May. Heather covered final arrangements and expenses herself, but as the couple planned, she then applied for reimbursement as part of the Non-Service-Connected Burial Allowance.
Her request was denied saying she ‘did not provide evidence showing that the Veteran was eligible to receive, or was retroactively found to have been eligible to receive, disability compensation or VA pension.’
Heather says she was shocked. She wanted to share her story to raise awareness and hopefully help other families out there in some way.
“He always told me, they’ll take care of it Heather, just call them,” she said. “I think of how angry he would be now if he saw those letters back to me saying you don’t meet the criteria.”
The requirements and criteria listed on the US Department of Affairs which can be found here.
“There’s an appeal process…but I kind of threw my hands up,” she said. “(It’s not about the money) it’s the principle of it and what he believed to be true.”
And that, she says, is that his family wouldn’t have to worry about the money for final expenses. She worries others may be able to relate. She’s sharing her struggle and her fight in hopes of educating other veterans and their families to maybe avoid the same.
“Care about your country, love your country and care about your neighbors,” she said of how they have always tried to live their lives.
Hayley began digging into this and reached out to the local Mann-Grandstaff VAMC. They immediately began working at the state and local level to try to help.
She has connected Heahter with a resource they provided in Spokane Valley, Spokane County Veterans Services, who will help her navigate next steps.
