Lugar receives military award

The Military Order of the Purple Heart honored Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., this month for his work to provide full-honor funerals to all service members buried in Arlington National Cemetery, regardless of rank.

Lugar was awarded the Region II Commanders Award by the Military Order. The award was created to recognize someone who has made an extraordinary effort to help veterans and service members.

Dave Bowman, the Region II Commander, said the award is given in unique situations.

“The award goes to a member that by far exceeds the standards of what is expected,” Bowman said.

Previously, only officers received full burial honors.

Kaitlin Horst, a spokeswoman for Arlington National Cemetery, said under the new rules all eligible soldiers will be honored with a bugler, firing party, chaplain, colors team, caisson, band and escort platoon.

Horst said even with the new rules, the cemetery’s main concern was for the families.

“We will continue to work in the best interest of the families and their wishes,” she said.

The idea was brought to Lugar in 2007 by Sgt. First Class Robert Durbin, who served as a Full Honor Casket Team squad leader at the cemetery, said Mark Hayes, a spokesman for Lugar.

“Senator Lugar worked with Sergeant Durbin and forwarded his request to the Department of Defense,” Hayes said.

Hayes said Lugar oversaw the project and made sure the policy was changed.

Bowman said the issue had not been questioned before.

“This is something new that came up. No one had an axe to grind about it,” Bowman said. “We found it interesting that he picked it up.”

Though it had never been an issue, Bowman is glad to see that all soldiers are receiving the same honors regardless of rank.

“Senator Lugar was correcting an injustice,” he said.