Retired Lt. Col. Linda Campbell was happy to find out that the Department of Veterans Affairs had approved her request to have her partner, Nancy Lynchild -- who died in December -- buried in Willamette National Cemetery, southeast of Portland, Oregon, the Daily Beast website reports today (February 15, 2013).
Unlike Campbell, Lynchild herself was not a veteran, and she is believed to be the first same-sex spouse of a military member buried in a national cemetery.
Although the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has been abolished, same-sex marriage is still not formally recognized by the military.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs said it was actually the first time he had been asked to consider such a case, and emphasized that his decision applies solely to Campbell and Lynchild, and should not be viewed as establishing a new policy.
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