Honoring the life of an Ohio transgender veteran

By Ginger Williams

I had a recent occasion to attend a ceremony at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery for a trans sister’s interment. She was a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Samuel Gompers, a destroyer tender.

The cemetery setting was quiet and reflective. The rows of markers, the open grounds and the stillness of the place reminded me that military service is not only a matter of duty, but also of identity, sacrifice and belonging.

We arrived as a small group – she had no family present – to witness a short but regimented service. Her remains were contained in an urn marked with a transgender flag.

We first had a few words from the Veterans Affairs representative on what to expect. Walking up to a small open-air shelter, we were met by two Naval honor guards who ceremoniously placed her remains, photo and the U.S. flag on a dais for display during the ceremony. There were a few prayerful words from a representative of Medina, Ohio, VFW Post 5137, a 21-gun salute and Taps. The US flag was unfurled, stretched and folded 13 times in a military triangle and presented to her closest friends on behalf of the United States Navy and the nation.

This was a moment to honor a life of service without qualification or exception. The ceremony called for respect, but it also asked for something deeper: that we recognize the full humanity of the person being laid to rest, not only the courage it can take to serve one’s country but also the courage of living honestly as oneself.

National cemeteries are places of public memory. They preserve the stories of veterans and remind visitors that the promise of dignity must extend to every person who served. Standing there, I felt the importance of creating space for remembrance that is inclusive, compassionate and truthful.

A burial is an ending and also a reminder of what we owe one another: dignity, recognition and respect.

May she rest in peace. 🔥

Ginger Williams is a Cleveland-based researcher and public speaker who has studied the life and legacy of Dr. Richard D. Murray. She also volunteers with a variety of LGBTQ+ social, advocacy, and equality organizations in Ohio and Florida.

Editor’s Note: We are honoring the author’s request to not name the veteran for fear her marker might be vandalized.