FAIRFAX, Va. – Joseph Chapman was a decorated Army colonel. He died recently at the age of 80. When his son, Jim McLean went to view his father’s body, he saw a man in uniform. Unfortunately, the man wearing his father’s uniform, was not his father.
“This just isn’t right. This should never, never happen. This is something you read in a fiction novel or see in a movie on TV,” McLean said. “My dad’s uniform… that’s degradation beyond words for a military man.”
McLean said he called staff members of the Everly Funeral home to the chapel but they were allegedly dismissive. According to the McLean, the funeral director would not address the family but eventually checked the toe tag and confirmed that Chapman was not the occupant of the casket.
To make matters worse, the funeral home refused to disclose the exact location of Chapman’s body but Everly’s manager did say he was buried in Winchester. Despite admitting to the mix up, the funeral home told the family that a judge would have to order an exhumation.