Dad's headstone and the Navy

B

Bill Marsh

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
1,861
My father wanted the name of the ship he served on in WWII on his headstone. He was proud to have been in the Navy on the USS Seneca.

However the cememtary where he is now buried won't let us put that on his headstone. They say that "The Military" won't allow it.

Does this make sense? The cemetary folks insist that this is the "law!"

Other than sneaking in there in the middle of the night with a flashlight, hammer and chisel, is there any way to get "USS Seneca" on his headstone?

We actually have not placed a headstone yet, hoping to get this settled.

Any advice would be helpful.

They did say that we could put an anchor on the head stone, but somehow that isn't enough.
 
Is there some slang/military term for 'USS', that you could put instead? Then follow it with 'Seneca'.

Have you checked with the Dept. of Navy?
 
I'd check with the Navy. I seem to recall stones with ship's name's on them...
You could always put, "He loved the Seneca". I don't see how they could stop that. What's a 'seneca'? could be a horse or mountain.

munk
 
Hey Bill,

I'd send a letter to your U.S. Senator, and Representatives, with a copy of his discharge papers, and any other relevant papers (keep it brief.)

This is the sort of thing that elected officials love. Their minions do the work, they take the credit, and it is win-win, because all they have to do is send a note to the the cemetary managers.

Nothing takes away from the memory and honor, no matter what the cemetary says.

All the best,


Kis
 
Honestly, Kismet, i think I'd check with the local naval office before writing a Senator. Save that as step two.


munk
 
Are you, or the cemetery, asking for a government-furnished headstone? If so, the Veterans Administration does have rules about what can be inscribed on the headstones they provide. However, they apparently don't mind if you add inscriptions, provided there is space for it and you pay for the additional inscription work yourself, it can be done after the stone is delivered. See the VA web site, www.va.gov for details, if a government-furnished headstone is involved they may clarify the rules for the cemetery.

(Edit: do check with the VA, they might need to clear the extra inscription language first. All this, of course, assuming the VA is actually involved and it is not a local cemetery rule.)
 
That is what I like about this forum.

Sooner or later, somebody will either have the answer or can tell you where to go looking to find it yourself.

Nobody knows everything. Anyone who pretends he does is a blivet ( defined as five pounds of steer manure stuffed into a one pound bag ). But put the word out and someone somewhere can point the way.
 
I've always had a sneaking suspician someone, somehow, somewhere knows something.



munk
 
This is a great Forum! Good ideas.

1. I will check with the Navy and see if the cemetary people have anything legitimate. We do have the papers.

2. If no good result, call a senator. I know my local guy.

3. Since this is a small marker, a brass plate about 18x24 inches that bolts to a flat stone already in place, I will have one made and install it myself and dare the cemetary to do anything. I have friends in the press and they would love this.

I am not sure if the cememtary guy really knows what he is doing.

I also like "He Loved The Seneca" that is really a good idea!
 
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