A Georgia funeral home refused to put Veteran George Taylor in a casket because of problems with his life insurance payment.
People are outraged over photos on social media of a Vietnam War veteran displayed at his wake on a gurney covered in an American flag.
No coffin was available for the visitation held at Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, WTVC reports.
“At first we were okay with it,” said a family member, “but like I told the guy, I said this was very disrespectful to my dad.”
Taylor’s family said the funeral home refused to put George Taylor in a casket because of problems with his life insurance payment.
Taylor’s son, James, said the family was given little notice of the problem prior to the visitation.
“They came to me and told me that unless $9,000 was paid, they couldn’t put him into the ground,” he told ABC 7 New York.
“Mr. Taylor was a two-term Vietnam Vet,” wrote Ella Moss on Facebook. “We live in the Greatest Country in the world, and this is the best we can do for our soldiers. Not even a pillow for his head.”
Funeral home representative David Cummings said they did what the family asked.
“We were trying to honor the request and let them have some closure by viewing their loved one.”
Watch George Taylor’s tribute video here
Photo: Facebook / Ella Moss
