They served our country and have passed on. Now a final resting place for our military members is open on the Space Coast.

The remains of the first 12 veterans were brought to the gravesites at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Tuesday afternoon, the first of many.

"Today we accept the remains of your loved ones, 12 heroes who will be laid to rest here," said Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Director Don Murphy, as he addressed the dozens of family members and friends.

One by one, each urn was brought to the appropriate spot by an active duty service member.

The names of the men were read, including Coast Guardsmen Kenneth Howard, who passed away just months after his wife died back in 2013.

The Merritt Island native served during the Pearl Harbor attack of World War II.

His daughter and son-in-law were at the burial to honor him for his service and sacrifice.

"It's very important. Because that was my daddy. There were 14 of us, and I was the baby, so this is an honor, a great honor," said Gloria Wagner Howard.

"A great honor to the man I knew as my father-in-law," Bruce Wagner said.

The 12 service members buried Tuesday were from all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

United States Army

Private First Class Richard Diamond
Sergeant Isidore Rodriguez
Technical Sergeant 4 Carter Woolsey

United States Marine Corps

Lance Corporal Julian McGlumphy

United States Navy

Electricians Mare 2nd Class Edward Backiel
Yeoman 2nd Class Fausto Castrodad
Aviation Electricians Mate 3rd Class Irwin Cohen

United States Air Force

Major Edwin Cullity
Technical Sergeant John Garvey
Airman 2nd Class Theodore Glaser
Staff Sergeant Edward Guthrie

United States Coast Guard

Engineman 3rd Class Kenneth Howard

Cape Canaveral National Cemetery encompasses 318 acres and will serve the burial needs of 163,000 veterans in the cemetery’s service area for the next 100 years.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from the national cemetery office listings at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA district offices toll-free at (800) 827-1000. 

For information on Cape Canaveral National Cemetery go to www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/capecanaveral.asp of call the cemetery office at (321) 383-2638.

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