---

SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

MANSFIELD - A bill that would allow a Mansfield woman to be buried in a veterans cemetery next to her son, who was killed serving in Iraq, has been green-lighted by a congressional subcommittee.

The Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to support "The Corey Shea Act," a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank on behalf of Shea's mother, Denise Anderson, of Mansfield.

The bill, introduced by Frank earlier this year, would allow parents of veterans to be buried with their loved ones in military cemeteries, provided the veteran did not have a spouse or children.

Shea, 21, an Army specialist, was killed in the line of duty last year in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi soldier turned his weapon on his American partners, killing two and wounding six. The current law only allows spouses or minor children of deceased veterans to be buried in the same plot as their loved ones in national military cemeteries, unless special permission is granted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Anderson had asked the department for special permission, but her request was denied.

Shea left behind no surviving spouse or minor children.

The bill, as passed by the subcommittee Wednesday, grants parents of deceased veterans the right to be buried with their children if the veteran has no living spouse or minor children.

The legislation stipulates, however, that the concession will not cause any veteran to be displaced and covers only veterans who died in battle or in preparation for battle. It includes either biological or adoptive parents.

U.S. Rep. John Hall, chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, moved the legislation forward quickly, holding a hearing on October 8, and putting the bill to a vote on Wednesday.

The legislation passed the subcommittee by a unanimous vote.

"I will work with leadership to help bring this bill to a vote on the House floor," Frank said. "This legislation is a testament to the devotion of Mrs. Anderson, whose personal commitment will help veterans' families across the country."

Earlier this month, Anderson traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify in favor of the bill before the subcommittee.

The legislation will next come before the full Veterans Committee for a vote and, if the bill passes that hurdle, will move to the House floor.