WINK News helps get military honors for Vietnam veteran’s funeral

Carl Schmedeke Jr. is a Vietnam veteran who lived in Port Charlotte until his death in February.

But there was a problem with his death certificate, so his daughter Stacey turned to WINK News for help.

In a Facebook message, Stacey said the funeral home sent her multiple death certificates with her father’s name misspelled.

She feared those errors would make it impossible for there to be military honors at her dad’s funeral on Saturday.

“He’s a combat infantryman that earned Bronze Star. He had an Army commendation medal with a V for valor, so he was a highly decorated Vietnam vet,” Stacey said.

WINK News made some calls and found out you don’t need a death certificate at all to get military honors at a funeral.

On top of that, the funeral home corrected the death certificate and got it to Stacey.

Now, the funeral with military honors will happen and she has a final death certificate.