ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The New York National Guard says its military honor guards expect to conduct 11,300 funerals for veterans of the Army and Air Force by the end of 2014.
Last year, New York National Guard Honor Guards provided funeral services for 11,585 families of military veterans.
Officials say the lower number for 2014 appears to be due to the decline in the number of World War II and Korean War-era veterans still living, as well as cutbacks following a temporary budget reduction in October 2013.
Under federal law, any American who has served in the armed forces and wasn’t dishonorably discharged is eligible for military funeral services.
Since being organized in 1999, the National Guard honor guards have participated in more than 100,000 military funerals across New York.
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