Death benefits denied for military families during government shutdown

By Rikki Cheese
CREATED 9:39 PM
 The government shutdown is devastating families of troops killed in Afghanistan.
 
Many don't have the money to bury their loved ones, or even retrieve their bodies, because the military is denying death benefits during the government shutdown.
 
Cody Patterson's sister had to find donors to pay for tickets to fly from Las Vegas to Dover Air Force Base Tuesday morning.
 
The private first class was killed in action in Afghanistan this weekend.
 
Military survivors are supposed to receive $100 thousand dollars in death benefits within hours after a loved one is killed.
 
The leaders of the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation, a group that sends care packages to soldiers, are outraged that the benefits are being halted.
 
 
LeAnna Marchese says, "Land of the free because of the brave, and this is, it's a disgrace."
 
Suni Chabrow says, "I think there should be emergency funding for these families."
 
There is a move in the Republican house to do that, but it has to get past Democrats who support the President's refusal to approve any piecemeal government funding.
 
Stay with Action News for updates on this developing story.
 
end quote from: