Loved Ones Asked to Pick Up Stored Vases at Maui Veterans Cemetery

Photo courtesy of Jenerate PR

Over 1,000 vases from the Maui Veterans Cemetery that were placed in storage during a gravesite restoration project in 2014 are now being returned to their graves.

The state Dept. of Defense announced today that family members may contact the cemetery to retrieve vases that belong to them.

In May 2014, before the construction commenced, all gravesites were photographed, and all vases were catalogued, according to officials.

Each gravesite is allowed one bronze vase. Officials say bronze vases were put back into place after the project was completed.

The 1,200 currently in storage are extra bronze vases that were at the gravesites, as well as many non-bronze (not up to code, glass or plastic) vases. According to the department, these extras remain in storage and nothing was thrown out.

To reclaim a vase, family members can all the Maui Veterans Cemetery at 876-4534 and provide the full name of deceased and, if known, the graveʻs location.

The department is asking the public to call ahead of time and discourages walk-ins, as cemetery staff may need one to two days to process the vases.

Calls concerning the extra vases will be taken from Jan. 2 to 31.

In February, any unclaimed non-bronze vases will be disposed. Any extra bronze vases will be saved and donated to families of veterans.