- May 13, 2025
Recently I received a call from Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service in Bunnell asking for help fulfilling the final arrangements for Giovanni Straccia, a Flagler County U.S. Army veteran who passed away at the age of 85.
He had no known next of kin or funds to fulfill his most basic wishes. Another wrinkle was that no one could find his DD Form 214 (military discharge document), so that we could prove eligibility for a veteran burial in a Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery.
Heritage was able to complete the cremation with a little funding help from County Health and Human Services, but they needed assistance with fulfilling Straccia’s desire to have a Catholic funeral mass. Straccia was a congregant of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Palm Coast.
I knew just the man to call to get this accomplished. I immediately reached out to U.S. Navy veteran Frank Consentino, a devout Catholic, proud patriot and a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus Color Corps Commander of Corpus Christi Assembly 2810. I’ve known Consentino for nearly 10 years as a perennial participant in the county’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs. I knew I could count on Consentino to make it happen.
I told Consentino about our mission to fulfill Straccia’s final wishes and without hesitation he agreed to help, and he immediately got to work. I contacted the National Archives and requested a copy of Giovani’s DDFM 214, and within a couple of days I had it. I put Consentino in contact with the folks at Heritage to coordinate Straccia’s funeral wishes. He arranged the funeral service at his church.
Heritage worked with the Cape Canaveral VA National Cemetery for a burial date and Consentino organized the Knights of Columbus and the Knights on Bikes motorcycle riders to escort Straccia’s cremains to the cemetery and attend the burial with honors conducted by the U.S. Army.
Thanks to all involved Straccia was buried with the love of fellow veterans and some new friends. In the end this was a good news story, and it provides me with the opportunity to remind folks to plan your final arrangements. Don’t leave it to your survivors and don’t be superstitious. Thinking and talking about final arrangements won’t make you pass away prematurely.
Veterans can visit Flagler County Veterans Services and learn more about your VA burial benefits. Most veterans can be buried at VA National Cemetery at no cost. Your spouse too. I challenge you to find a more beautiful, well maintained resting place than a VA National Cemetery. Contact Flagler County Veterans Services, David or Eric at 386-313-4014 for more information.
