Unclaimed Navy veteran, wife to be laid to rest in Beaufort

What: Burial service for Navy veteran Kenneth Milligan &#38; his wife, Alice
When: Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m.
Where: Beaufort National Cemetery
Address: 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, South Carolina
Who can attend: The service is open to the public

by Shakuria Smith

BEAUFORT, Sc. (WTOC) - An unclaimed U.S. Navy veteran and his wife will be laid to rest together at Beaufort National Cemetery.

Kenneth and Alice Milligan died in medical facilities one day apart. Kenneth died in a nursing home, while Alice died in hospice care. Officials said efforts to locate their family were unsuccessful.

Kenneth Milligan served as a seaman apprentice, or E-2, in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Because of Kenneth’s military service, the couple will receive a burial service at Beaufort National Cemetery. The service is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m., and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Cemetery officials said they conduct only a few services for unclaimed veterans each year. Honoring an unclaimed veteran alongside a spouse is especially rare, as many unclaimed veterans are single, divorced or separated.

Officials said the service provides the community with an opportunity to show its appreciation for Kenneth’s military service while also recognizing Alice and the sacrifices made by military spouses.

The cemetery will maintain the couple’s gravesites for as long as the cemetery remains in operation.