After appeal, Army allows Arlington burial for soldier killed in helicopter crash. Your thoughts?

2015-06-12T17:59:57-04:00

After a helicopter crash killed Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich and 10 other soldiers and Marines in March, his family had a simple wish: that Florich could be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The request was denied on the basis of a technicality: Florich, a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, was not on active-duty at the time of the crash.

The effort to bury Florich at Arlington didn’t end there. His father, Stephen, called the the decision an insult in interviews and said he planned to appeal. At least one of the active-duty Marines who were killed alongside Florich was buried at Arlington.

“Their service is just as real as anyone else’s,” Stephen Florich, who lives in King George County, Va., told the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. “And their deaths are just as real.”

On Friday, the Pentagon announced that Army Secretary John McHugh had overturned the decision. He did so by granting an exception to policy, which was created in part because the amount of free space in Arlington is dwindling, and the cemetery will someday be closed to new burials.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/12/after-appeal-army-allows-arlington-burial-for-soldier-killed-in-helicopter-crash/?tid=hpModule_9d3add6c-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e&hpid=z14

After appeal, Army allows Arlington burial for soldier killed in helicopter crash

Army Secretary John McHugh made an exception to policy for Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Jun 12 at 2015 6:34 PM

2015-06-12T18:34:43-04:00

This decision makes me very happy. They deserved to be buried in Arlington, whether it was "technically" correct or not. Thank our Heavenly Father for leading the board to correct their first decision....

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jun 12 at 2015 9:13 PM

2015-06-12T21:13:08-04:00

Daaaaah! What do you think, over!

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jun 12 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-06-12T21:58:42-04:00

Well in El Paso Texas there is a company of buffalo soldiers buried in the city cemetery. I wondered why they weren't buried in the Ft Bliss national cemetery... maybe they should be buried in Louisiana. I recon they were happy to have a Christian burial.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 13 at 2015 6:45 AM

2015-06-13T06:45:09-04:00

I think he is resting with those he died with. I think that is appropriate. I think that it is within the Spirit of the regulation, even if it is not within the Letter, which makes it the right thing.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 13 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-06-13T09:40:26-04:00

Did he deserve it, yes, but it opens the door to every burial denial to be appealed and more exceptions to be made. You make 1 exception and you have to consider every case individually so might as well throw out the criteria.

People in all walks of life, in any situation need to understand that there are regulations standards and criteria for a reason. Everyone is going to feel that their case deserves an exception and no one wants to take "No" for an answer, its human nature. Who benefits from this decision, the SM or the family so they can say their son is buried in Arlington?