Michael Tangeman is living a nightmare. More than two decades after the death of his grandfather and father he learned last weekend that their cremated remains were taken from Greenlawn Cemetery and buried at Dayton National Cemetery.

Missing in America Project (MIAP), a national non-profit that locates unclaimed remains of veterans and buries them at national cemetery, took custody of the cremains of both men last month. This process is is allowed under the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012. To read more on this law, click here.

“However, in the case of the remains of my grandfather, Richard Michael Tangeman, and father, Richard Hartley Tangeman, the remains had been designated by family members for permanent storage at Greenlawn,” Tangeman wrote in an email to NBC4.

Michael was a senior in college when his father died in 1991. His parents were divorced, so his aunt arranged for his father’s burial. His grandfather died in 1970 when he was barely one year old.

Fred Salanti, executive director of MIAP, tells NBC4 that Greenlawn Cemetery identified the Tangeman ashes as unclaimed.

“The shortest time was 25 years when the father passed, and 35 years for the grandfather since anybody provided contract information or come visit,” said Salanti during a phone interview.

On June 30th, the ashes of Michael’s father and grandfather were moved and buried. Salanti said his group posted a legal notice in three local papers for thirty days to notify any potential family members.

Michael Tangeman feels the legal notice fell short.

“MIAP’s contentions is that this is a sufficient attempt to reach next of kin. It’s really not reaching out, it’s a passive search,” said Tangeman.

NBC4 contacted Deyo-Davis funeral home which handled the funeral for Michael’s father. Jeff Davis said a note in the file indicated his ashes were to be taken to Greenlawn for storage or common grave. A call to the general manager of the cemetery, Jack Lee-Harris, revealed they did not check their archives for next of kin information.

Fred Salanti said his group lacks the manpower to conduct extensive internet searches for family of deceased veterans. But he is willing to work with Michael to reach a resolution.

“It’s a violation for us to break a family funeral home and cemetery contract. That’s historic and we don’t want to break that,” he said.

Michael said he has not decided on what to do next.

“This could happen to anyone who has family members that have passed on and are veterans,” said Michael.