Three years later, still no marker for Chehalis vet's grave
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CHEHALIS, Wash. -- An unmarked military grave is causing great pain for a Chehalis family, who called the Problem Solvers for help.
Nothing marks the spot where Air Force veteran Sgt. Gregory Vandal has been laid to rest. Vandal, who was a father and a husband, died of cancer in 2010.
"It does make me feel kind of lost. You see everybody's else's plates, and Daddy's is missing," said daughter Jamie Brown.
Vandal's family says they sent in the application for a bronze marker the government provides free of charge, but it never arrived.
"Three years that we've waited and waited, and we have nothing," said Brown. "I need closure, and that closure is going to be that headstone, for all of us."
What's worse, the official proclamation thanking Vandal for his service got his name wrong.
"When his presidential award came, it was under George. His name's Gregory," said Brown.
Relatives say they made several phone calls in an attempt to fix the error, but consumed by grief, they eventually gave up.
"When he did die, it hit us all so hard and things were so quick," said Brown.
The family contacted the Problem Solvers for help, and KOMO News called Veterans Affairs, Sen. Patty Murray's Office, and Claquato Cemetery where Vandal is buried.
The Problem Solvers have now put the wheels in motion. For now, they will keep marking his grave with a small American flag.
Soon, Vandal, who lies in between his two veteran brothers, will have his own marker as well. Murray’s office is working with the Problem Solvers to get that marker. And cemetery managers will help the family turn in the necessary government forms.
"He was a veteran. He deserves to have that plate there that says, 'Hey, I was a vet. I gave,'" said Brown.
Nothing marks the spot where Air Force veteran Sgt. Gregory Vandal has been laid to rest. Vandal, who was a father and a husband, died of cancer in 2010.
"It does make me feel kind of lost. You see everybody's else's plates, and Daddy's is missing," said daughter Jamie Brown.
Vandal's family says they sent in the application for a bronze marker the government provides free of charge, but it never arrived.
"Three years that we've waited and waited, and we have nothing," said Brown. "I need closure, and that closure is going to be that headstone, for all of us."
What's worse, the official proclamation thanking Vandal for his service got his name wrong.
"When his presidential award came, it was under George. His name's Gregory," said Brown.
Relatives say they made several phone calls in an attempt to fix the error, but consumed by grief, they eventually gave up.
"When he did die, it hit us all so hard and things were so quick," said Brown.
The family contacted the Problem Solvers for help, and KOMO News called Veterans Affairs, Sen. Patty Murray's Office, and Claquato Cemetery where Vandal is buried.
The Problem Solvers have now put the wheels in motion. For now, they will keep marking his grave with a small American flag.
Soon, Vandal, who lies in between his two veteran brothers, will have his own marker as well. Murray’s office is working with the Problem Solvers to get that marker. And cemetery managers will help the family turn in the necessary government forms.
"He was a veteran. He deserves to have that plate there that says, 'Hey, I was a vet. I gave,'" said Brown.
It's possible this thing has gone on for so long because to add insult to injury they got his first name wrong. This whole thing is so disrespectful to the vet and to his family. Hope they get it straightened out as soon as possible. Someone definately dropped the ball on this one.
Someone must contact the V.A. !
Why not just call the office at Tahoma National Military Cemetery? They deal with tombstones and the VA every day. I'm sure they'd take care of the issue, if they don't already have the marker mistakenly issued to them already.
Contact the American Legion post nearest you and ask to speak the the service officer. Veterans are given FREE headstones by the US government. You just have to fill out an application and provide a death certificate and a copy of the deceased's DD 214. You local funeral home can also help you.
@Esther Thank you for the info. My father is a Vet and I didn't know we could get a free headstone for him when the time comes. Â
Vets are not treated right - this is just one example.
This hero deserves it. So sad its gone so long without one
How much should this take? What would it cost to get this done right! Tell me where to send the money to get the marker made and placed. Sometimes it takes more than the Government to get simple things done