Remember that patio made of military headstones?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:22:36 -0400

Homeowner tells TV station he will remove patio made of military headstones

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Tribune News Service) — A man in the Ozarks who built a patio out of what he said were discarded military headstones found in a landfill told a TV station on Tuesday that he will remove it.

Navy veteran Ed Harkreader of Mountain Home, Ark., had posted photographs of the arrangement on Facebook last week. The post triggered scores of outraged comments and was shared thousands of times, but the post has apparently since been removed.

The homeowner, whom the station did not name, said: “I was just making something out of nothing. Ninety percent of them are broken. They were never in a cemetery. They went from the monument to the landfill. There were mistakes. I didn’t know.”

The Springfield, Mo., station also confirmed that a monument company there once made such headstones and that those that were damaged were discarded.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/homeowner-tells-tv-station-he-will-remove-patio-made-of-military-headstones-1.363526

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 20 at 2015 9:23 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:23:48 -0400

This shows a clear disregard for those who gave their lives for freedom and liberty.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 20 at 2015 9:24 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:24:38 -0400

Good one!

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 20 at 2015 9:49 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:49:36 -0400

I really don't see a big problem with this - not sure what all the fuss is about?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 20 at 2015 10:10 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 10:10:12 -0400

What is worse, having the makers used as a patio where people can at least see the names of those that fought for this country or to see these stones lost in a landfill covered in trash where the names would never be seen again?

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 20 at 2015 11:27 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 11:27:36 -0400

CMSgt Mark Schubert and SGT Ben Keen this should never have been able to happen in the first place, there are procedures in place for when a grave marker is incorrect, damages, or worn to the point it is not legible. The company that made them screwed the pooch when they did not dispose of them correctly.

http://www.cem.va.gov/hmm/replacements.asp

Replacement Headstones and Markers. - National Cemetery Administration

The VA National Cemetery Administration honors the military service of our Nation's Veterans. We provide a dignified burial and lasting memorial for Veterans and their eligible family members and we maintain our Veterans' cemeteries as national shrines.