Last week I was contacted by a family who wanted to “spread dad’s ashes”. They had previously made arrangements with another pilot to do the scattering. For some reason it didn’t work out and now they were contacting me in a panic because the date was set and people were scheduled to come and be a part of the scattering.

After talking with the son of the deceased, I realized that the first pilot was not a professional. The pilot did not have the proper equipment, the right kind of airplane or an understanding of the correct paperwork. The family was fortunate it didn’t work out with that pilot, as things likely would have gone horribly wrong.

I could tell the pilot didn’t have the correct equipment because the client asked several times during our conversation if he needed to bring his own funnel. I assured him that, no, we are professionals, we have done this hundreds of times before, and that we have the proper scattering equipment.

I can only image what could have happened. Trying it without the proper equipment usually ends with the cremated remains back in the plane, all over the side of the plane, or worse (like in the eyes of the pilot).  Unfortunately, you only get one chance to get it right.

The pilot also didn’t have the correct airplane. The client told me that he would need two separate flights in which they would spread half the ashes on each flight. I asked him why. He informed me that he and his sister were large people and they each wanted to participate in the scattering and that plane could only carry one of them at a time. I informed him that we use a twin-engine airplane that can accommodate his whole family (4) on one flight so they can perform the scattering together.

I asked the client if he had already obtained the burial permit for the scattering at sea. He said no, the other pilot told him he didn’t need a permit or any paperwork at all. I informed him that, in California, a burial permit was required, and scattering without it was against the law. Fortunately, I was able to obtain the correct paperwork in time for the flight.

Unfortunately this client’s experience isn’t unique. In my many years in the business, I have heard countless stories of pilot’s first attempts at scattering that do not go well. A quick Internet search will yield stories that are truly sad.

Each state has their own laws about when and where you can scatter cremated remains. In California, we are required to have written permission from the landowner or governing agency. It may be troublesome sometimes, but it prevents problems. I found this story that demonstrates why. A pilot (allegedly) “accidentally” scattered over a professional baseball stadium causing a terrorist scare and the hazmat squad to be called out.

Please don’t trust something this important to an amateur. You only get one chance to get it right. Scattering your loved ones cremated remains can be a beautiful memory that can last a lifetime. If done incorrectly, it can be a tragic experience that will haunt a family for a lifetime. Please look for someone who is a licensed, insured, and trained professional. Please contact us if you have any questions.

People choose spreading of ashes for many different reasons. Some chose spreading of ashes because it is environmentally friendly.  Others chose spreading of ashes because it is less expensive than a traditional funeral.  Some chose it because it is a way to set their loved one free. Spreading of ashes also allows families to have their loved one laid to rest in a location of beauty.

Cremation and the spreading of ashes is considered to be environmentally friendly. Cremation also does not contribute to the 30 million board feet of hardwoods and 90,000 tons of steel, or 2,700 tones of copper and to make caskets. Nor does it contribute to the 1,000,000 plus tons of reinforced concrete for burial vaults or the 827,000 gallons of embalming fluid.

Spreading of ashes by airplane is an inexpensive funeral alternative.  A cremation can cost anywhere from $500 to $2000. Spreading of ashes costs about what you would spend on an urn. It is between $250-$2000.  For a service where the family is watching from the ground at the end of the pier the cost would be about $500. Therefore, if you chose a direct cremation that for $1000 and spread the ashes the cost would be about $1500. For that price you get a service that everyone in attendance will remember.

Spreading of ashes by airplane is setting someone free. Your loved one is not confined to a plot or an urn, rather they are set free to travel with the wind. Every cool breeze you feel will remind you of your loved one.

Spreading of ashes over a location of beautify is a wonderful way to remember your loved one. Every walk along the beach or hike on the trail near the scatter location will bring memories of your loved one.

Spreading of ashes is a wonderful funeral alternative. If you have any questions please contact us.

“My name is Tricia Rickets. I am a donor mom. I live in Versailles, Kentucky with my husband, John. I am honored to be able to share with you my story and how organ donation has changed my life and the lives of others.

I would like to start by telling you about someone who is dear to my heart and whom I miss more every day. Someone who was full of dreams and possibilities; he had the charm and personality to befriend anyone; no matter the age, gender, or ethnic background. He was a son, grandson, bother, uncle an friend. He is my son, and his name is Ryan Scott Wilson Wright.

Our story begins May 2, 2008 with an early morning phone call and visit from a police officer who told me Ryan had been shot. We arrived at the hospital and were told the news of Ryan’s condition and that he would quickly continue to deteriorate to brain death. Ryan’s life slipped away early that afternoon.

Many questions began in my head. What could I do to change the course this one phone call had put us on? How can I take the tragedy and turn it into something positive? How could Ryan’s death impact this life; how could I give my 25 year old son a legacy that would speak volumes of who he was? And so our ripple begins with th decision for Ryan to become an organ donor. Our decision was based upon Ryan; his love and generosity.

I look at organ donation as a ripple like a stone thrown into a pond. Ryan’s ‘Gift of Life’ has rippled into the lives of others; his organ recipients, his family, his friends, complete strangers who make the decision to sign the Organ Donor Registry at the DMV due to Ryan’s poster on the wall. Ryan’s organ donation is healing for me. It allows me to celebrate his life and to share his story without focusing on the tragedy of his death.

The Gift of Life…it’s healing, it’s a choice, it’s a decision, it’s a second chance, it’s a legacy… it’s my Ryan’s legacy. His legacy lives on in his recipients; one of hope, life, love, and second chances! Tragedy into triumph! How far will Ryan’s ripple go? It will go on forever until the  need for organ donation is gone.”

This article was re-printed with permission. It was published in the April 2012 issue of Funeral Home and Cemetery News, published by Nomis Publications. It was posted in the column written by Christopher Kuhnen.

Here’s where things get CRAZY – Carla says when she arrived to the memorial service, she noticed “various booths and tables” set up around the cathedral … one of which contained, “a large shoebox-size box containing several miniature vials that were on display.”

Carla says the vendor informed her, “each of the vials contained a small amount of the cremated remains of Mask, and were reserved for, and to be given to, ‘special people’ whose names were on a printed list.” http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/11/tapout-lawsuit-mma-cremation-mask-death-body-skyscrape-punkass-vials-ashes-remains-funeral-memorial-service/

Here at a Journey With Wings we are professionals. We are licensed and insured. We have worked with high profile celebrity cases, and they get the same treatment as all of our clients: reverent and dignified. Read more

If your desire is to have your loved one’s cremated remains split before being scattered, we would be honored to help you with this. Many of our clients choose to scatter only a portion of their

We want to assure our clients who might read articles like this that we take our job very seriously. We are licensed through the State of California as Cremated Remains Disposers, and have been inspected on several occasions. We carry $1,000,000 in professional liability insurance. We see to it that all laws are followed. We handle the cremated remains with the most care possible.

It is our goal to be as transparent as possible. For our un-witnessed scatterings, we invite families to the airport to verify we have their loved ones cremated remains, and watch us depart towards their chosen location. Families who wish to accompany the cremated remains on the flight and to the scattering location may do so on our private scattering flight. On this flight you can bring the cremated remains to the airport, be there as we load them into the scattering device, and operate the scattering device yourselves.

We know that this is an emotional time. We know you want to make sure your loved one is taken care of. Please do your homework. Work with only licensed professionals with experience. Check to make sure any company you work with has professional liability insurance. Only let the professionals handle the cremated remains. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The story stated: My father was buried in a cardboard coffin and placed next to a pet cemetery miles from our family home. Read about the ‘green’ funeral that went horribly wrong:

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-389741/Why-dads-eco-funeral-went-horribly-wrong.html#ixzz1qdoc8C4u

Here at A Journey With Wings, we scatter cremated remains by airplane. Because we don’t contribute to the thousands of board feet placed in the ground, or the thousands of gallons of embalming fluid used, we consider ourselves a type of eco-funeral. Please contact us if you have any questions.

It is thought that a traditional burial has practices that have a significant environmental impact. For example, embalming fluid contains formaldehyde, caskets use vital resources such as wood steel copper and bronze, and burial vaults placed millions of tons of reinforced concrete into the ground.

A Green funeral is a funeral that is performed in a manner that lessens the environmental impact. For example, in a green funeral, the body may not be embalmed nor is the casket placed in any kind of vault. Often the casket is made from a biodegradable material or there is no casket at all, rather the body is wrapped in a cloth.

On the surface, one wouldn’t think that cremation would be considered part of a green funeral, however, according to Treehugger.com, cremation is listed as one of their top ten green funeral tips. Today, cremation produces far less pollution than in the past. Cremation also does not contribute to the 30 million board feet of hardwoods and 90,000 tons of steel, or 2,700 tones of copper to make caskets. Nor does it contribute to the 1,000,000 plus tons of reinforced concrete for burial vaults or the 827,000 gallons of embalming fluid.

Here at A Journey With Wings, we feel that scattering of ashes is environmentally friendly. Cremated remains are considered sterile and have no environmental impact. Scattering of ashes returns the cremated remains back to nature.

If you have any questions about a green funeral or cremation and scattering please contact us and we would be happy to discuss it with you further.

Many people are comforted by being preset when the scattering of their loved one takes place and to know that their hand is the one that sends their loved on their final journey. Being onboard the aircraft also allows the family to have on last chance to say good-bye and provides a sense of closure not felt with other scattering methods.

One of the services we offer is to allow the family to perform the scattering service themselves.  The family will perform some of the tasks that are necessary for their own scattering flight.  These tasks might include operating the scattering device, recording coordinates, spotting the location, and operating recording equipment.  Because each scattering is unique, the necessary tasks may vary.

These flights are performed in our twin-engine Piper Aztec airplane.  Our patented scattering equipment used on this plane is designed to be easy to operate. Any member of the family can perform the release. We have had clients from ages 12 to 92 years old operate the device.  The process is reverent and dignified and does not directly expose the participants to the cremated remains. This plane can accommodate up to four persons who wish to participate.

The sole purpose of the flight is to scatter your loved one’s cremated remains.  The plane will take off and land at the same airport. In other words, we can’t take passengers, just those involved in performing the scattering.

Because of the sensitive nature of scatterings, and to protect privacy of our clients, our private scattering flights are arranged such that only the cremated remains of your loved-one are taken and released on this special flight.

I hope this information helps.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

Direct cremation is when the body goes directly to the crematory from the place of death, or from the morgue. It may make a short stop at a mortuary in order to obtain the death certificate, but not for much more than that. The body is not embalmed or dressed for a viewing. The body is not placed in a traditional casket. Instead, an “alternative cremation container”, probably made of cardboard or something similar, is used.

After the direct creamation. The cremated remains are then returned to the family, or in our case we pick them up. Usually the cremated remains are returned in a plastic box, unless the family has purchased an urn from a mortuary. The family then can make arrangements for a memorial service and scattering.

Direct cremation is a good choice for a family that had a death occur in a distant location. It is far less expensive to ship cremated remains than a full body. This allows the family to have a memorial service in a location that they prefer.

Direct cremation also allows more time for the families to decide on a memorial date. Families that need to make travel arrangements can do so when it is more convenient. The memorial may be held with the cremated remains present or not present.

Direct cremation is also less expensive because there is no preparation of the body and no casket. Here in California prices for direct cremation range from around $400-1,000.

Many families that I work with report to me that they were able to give their loved one a wonderful inexpensive memorial that suited them and all in attendance by choosing direct cremation and scattering by airplane. For example, they chose direct cremation from a local crematory that cost about $500. I picked up the cremated remains from the crematory for them. They scheduled a witnessed scattering at the local beach on a day and time that worked best for them. The cost for the scattering service is $500. They stood out on the beach and watched as their loved one was released by airplane. They brought helium balloons with them. Each person in attendance wrote a message on a balloon and released it after the scattering. So for about $1,000, they had a memorial that suited their loved one, got each family member and loved one in attendance involved and created a wonderful memory.

I hope this information helps. Please call if you have any questions. (562) 691-7227.

At a Journey With Wings we scatter cremated remains by airplane.  Therefore, we get a lot of questions about Sea Burial.  Most people think that all sea burials are done by boat, but a majority of our cremated remains aerial scatterings are performed at sea.

Burial at Sea is the disposition of human remains in the ocean.  This can be scattering the ashes, burying the cremated remains in the urn, burial in the casket, or the body wrapped in a cloth.  If done by airplane, scattering the cremated remains is the only option.

The United States allows full body burials in its territorial waters, which is beyond three miles off the coast.  Within three miles, it is state territory.  Here in California, full body burial is not allowed within its territorial waters, but cremated remains may be scattered.  Cremated remains may be scattered 1500 yards off the coast.  This is a pretty close distance, so if the scattering is done by airplane, family and friends can view it from the ground on shore.

One of our most popular scatterings is the witnessed scattering in which an unlimited number of friends and family may gather at a pier or shore line and witness the plane release the cremated remains.  Families and friends gather at a day and time that they choose.  The cremated remains are released in full view of the gathering.  The ashes leave the plane and make an elegant twist in the air.  They are then carried away by the wind and eventually settle to the ocean below.  Some families bring balloons with messages written on them, and after the scattering they release the balloons.  This makes for a memorable experience for all in attendance.

If you have any questions about burial at sea or other scattering options, please contact us at info@ajourneywithwings.com or (562) 691-7227.