Miami-Dade Public Cemetery Unveils Beautified Scatter Garden for Cremated Indigent Veterans on 9/11

09/11/2015

MIAMI - VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, and the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office unveiled a special Veterans Memorial Scatter Garden in the Medical Examiner’s Cemetery for indigent veterans on Sept. 11. The unveiling ceremony was attended by representatives and volunteers from VITAS Healthcare; the Medical Examiner’s Department; The Mission Continues, a veterans empowerment organization; and other local veteran groups. The Color Guard and military personnel were also on site to pay a special tribute to the many indigent veterans that were laid to rest.

VITAS Cares for Veterans

This beautification project was initiated by VITAS Healthcare employees who led efforts to clean up a section of the county cemetery reserved for the remains of cremated indigent veterans that was previously a non-descript section of the City Cemetery. Along with local organizations including U.S. Southern Command, the Miami VA and The Mission Continues, VITAS embarked on a mission to beautify the area and build a scatter garden for the indigent veteran’s section of the Medical Examiner’s Cemetery. Some of the beautification efforts that were completed included removing weeds and dead growth, planting new shrubs and installing three solar-powered lights at the bases of the flagpoles.

“At VITAS, we work diligently to honor all veterans and ensure that their final resting place befits their contribution and sacrifice to our country,” said Betty Bel, Senior General Manager of VITAS Healthcare of Miami-Dade. “This commitment is also strongly represented in how we provide care to veterans - VITAS offers a specialized level of hospice care designed to meet the specific needs of terminally ill veteran patients and their families.”

Above: The Color Guard and military personnel attended the event to pay tribute to veterans.

Above, left to right: Laurie Fitz, General Manager, VITAS Healthcare of Miami-Dade; Adrianne Vyasulu, Social Worker and Project Leader, VITAS Healthcare; Larry Cameron, Director of Operations, Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department; and Sandra Witty, Indigent Cremation Services Supervisor, Miami-Dade Medical Examiner

Above: Group shot of all the volunteers from VITAS Healthcare, Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Department, The Mission Continues, and the Miami Veterans Administration that dedicated their time and efforts in beautifying and creating a Veterans Scatter Garden at the City of Miami Cemetery, unveiled on September 11, 2015.