Moisture within a columbarium at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery has led to the deterioration of a Korean War veteran’s wooden urn. The family of the veteran, Marvin Matus, sought assistance from a local news outlet after facing challenges in relocating their father’s remains to a dry area.
Upon discovering the moisture issue, the Matus family contacted the cemetery more than a month ago but encountered delays in addressing the problem. With the help of FOX 4, they are now working collaboratively with cemetery officials to transfer the remains of both Marvin and his wife, Helen, who was interred beside him after her passing in early 2026.
Mike and Greg Matus reached out for help when they found significant moisture at their father’s gravesite while preparing to lay their mother’s ashes to rest in March. The moisture had caused the wooden urn to start rotting, raising serious concerns about the condition of their father’s remains. “There’s standing water inside the vault,” Mike Matus shared, expressing his frustration over the situation.
Mike Matus attempted to alert the cemetery on the same day they said their final goodbyes to Helen on March 19, but he felt their concerns were not being prioritized. “This isn’t rocket science. When we opened it up and saw the moisture, I would think the cemetery director would recognize the urgency,” he remarked.
After exhausting initial attempts to resolve the issue, the brothers escalated their concerns by contacting Texas Senator Ted Cruz and enlisting legal assistance. However, progress remained slow until FOX 4’s Shaun Rabb engaged with the cemetery’s director, prompting a response from the cemetery to assist in the relocation of the cremated remains.
The cemetery’s director assured the Matus family that they would facilitate the transfer of their parents’ remains to a new columbarium niche. “He said we can change out the box and move them to the new column,” Mike Matus recounted, noting that the cemetery was still investigating the source of the moisture.
In a statement, the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery confirmed their commitment to work with the family on moving the remains. Greg Matus expressed hope that the cemetery would identify the cause of the moisture to avoid similar situations for other veterans’ remains. “It’s shocking to treat a veteran’s remains this way at a national cemetery,” Greg stated, emphasizing the importance of respecting those who served. “We appreciate the efforts being made and hope for swift action.”
