The Cemetery Commission in the New England town prohibited a young boy in putting flowers on the graves on Veterans that died in the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. With a little pressure and the help of this Marine, things changed for the better.
The question here is, "Why would anyone stop another human being from paying respect, especially to those who fought and died for their country". This was all being done in the celebration of Memorial Day. I guess that day means nothing to some people.
National publicity and the help of a veteran paved the way....
The story:
Marine to aid boy's tribute after cemetery relents
FRAMINGHAM, MA - A U.S. Marine back from combat in Iraq will help 9-year-old Collin Kelly place flowers on the graves of long-dead veterans at Edgell Grove Cemetery Saturday, after the Cemetery Commission relented, allowing the tribute as long as the flowers are gone after Memorial Day.
Collin, due in New York this morning for NBC's ``Today'' show, will place geraniums on the veterans' graves with Marine Cpl. John Grigg, 23. Grigg said red geraniums are what women placed on the bodies of men on Civil War battlefields.
Grigg, who fought in the second battle of Fallujah, said he was angered when commissioners denied Collin's plan to plant two marigolds on each soldier's grave. The commissioners had said cemetery rules allow only family members to plant on graves.
``It inflamed me,'' Grigg said.
He contacted Collin's mother, Lynn, and said he'd go with the family to place geraniums on each grave. The Natick American Legion post will provide the flowers, he said. Grigg learned yesterday the commissioners had backpedaled, but the Marine said he was prepared to accompany young Collin in his dress blues anyway, because a presidential order allows decorating of soldiers' graves on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
``I thought it would be cool for him to have a Marine go with him,'' Grigg said. ``Here's a little boy who, I don't know if he fully understands it or not, but the fact that he wants to honor veterans is an amazing thing.''
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Sign in my VFW Post:
It isn't the price you pay to join, it's the price you paid to be eligible.
Red Hawk, they said they didn't want people putting flowers etc on graves, unless they were the graves of family members.
Yeah i realize that as well, but if someone wants to pay their respects regardless if its a family member or not, they should be let to do so is what i was trying to say
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Proud Daddy of Mini Red Hawk
Master of the Poof-B-Gone Pen
One more reason I am thankful I live in Va., honoring our veterans of all eras is actually encouraged, I can not imagine the public outcry here if soemthing like this came up, trust me there would have been no need for this fine young Marine to come to this young lads aide!
This says an awful lot about the young man who respects veterans of all eras more then a lot of adults and just as much about the Marine who helped him out.
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The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
A Thank You to this Marine
