Westmoreland Review

Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), together with U.S. Representatives Dan Meuser (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Julia Brownley (D-CA) have introduced a new bipartisan bill, H.R. 1344, known as the Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act. This legislation aims to provide memorial headstones or markers through the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible spouses or dependent children of veterans in national, state, or tribal Veterans cemeteries, regardless of their date of death.

Currently, the law excludes eligible spouses and dependent children who died before November 11, 1998, from being added to a memorial headstone or marker. The proposed bill seeks to amend this restriction.

The bill is named after Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy, who lost their lives in a Mexico earthquake in 1985. Dennis was posthumously honored with a memorial marker at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 2023; however, his wife Lois remains ineligible under current regulations.

Reschenthaler commented on the significance of family support within military service: “As a Navy veteran, I am acutely aware of the essential support that a service member’s family provides to the success of our Armed Forces,” adding that this act is "a commonsense, bipartisan, and vital step" toward recognizing these contributions.

Meuser emphasized the importance of not allowing "arbitrary deadlines" to prevent military families from honoring their loved ones properly. He expressed appreciation for Reschenthaler's efforts on behalf of both the Krisfalusys and all veterans' families.

Kelly highlighted that "1.5 million Americans have died for this great country," stressing that this legislation allows for honoring both those who served and their families who also sacrificed significantly.

Thompson shared his personal connection as an army dad: "Our veterans and their families make significant sacrifices for our country...I am proud to support bipartisan legislation updating an outdated law."

Deluzio pointed out that including eligible family members on memorials serves as a powerful acknowledgment of family importance to veterans: “This bill is a powerful way to honor how important family is to our nation’s veterans.”

Brownley reiterated that recognizing spouses and children on memorial headstones fulfills "our solemn promise" to those who served by ensuring they are honored appropriately both during life and after death.

The story of Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy has been previously reported by the Washington Observer-Reporter. More details about H.R. 1344 can be found by viewing the full legislation online.