To once again clarify what Mac is saying below....The way Earl and the Lions got away with doing it for one cemetery and not another prior to July 1, 2007, was that it was a Leon City Cemetery and the Leon City Lion's Club project. Now, Decatur County sets out at the deceased Veteran's grave a SOLID BRONZE (not plastic) Service Grave Marker. These SOLID BRONZE Service Grave Markers are kept out all year long. The small American Flag that is placed in the grave marker is the only item that is put out on special days. The SOLID BRONZE Service Markers that Decatur County purchases says on the marker: "U.S. Veteran". Again, Mac, I encourage you to call my office so you have a better understanding as to how my County office operates. Samantha Schaff, Decatur County VA Office. 641-446-7494. -----Original Message----- From: Ronald M McClure [mailto:rmcclure@hot.rr.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 1:04 PM To: Ronald M McClure; rjbixby@grm.net; iadecatu@rootsweb.com Cc: decctyva@grm.net Subject: Re: [IADECATU] Veterans ok gang, there's a bad mistake or mis-understandin' goin' on here. the lyons and earl hanthorn did not provide any, say again, any headstones to any veterans, anywhere. what they provided was these markers or flag holders that you see a lot of times beside the headstone. if the lions or earl hanthorn did not pay for them then it may have been the county......although i don't see how they could've gotten away with .........doin' that for one cemetery, for one veteran and not another........maybe a "squeaky wheel" thing. But, in any case, as i said earlier, the va will supply an appropriately engraved headstone (a real honest to goodness headstone) for any veteran who's headstone is missing or damaged.....regardless of how long ago the veteran passed away or is buried.....(I hope it goes without saying that the guy can't have a dishonorable discharge.......what? you say you don't know what kind of discharge he got?.....no sweat.....the va does.....just make the application and the rest of it will take care of it's self...... It requires paperwork, of course, but a call to your county VA rep will either process that for you or assist you in the application and expediting processing. i believe i put out earlier what her ph# and location are.....if not i can prob'ly find it again. remember, the markers are these small "plastic?" things meant to hold a flag or something that are generally put out on special days......that the county prob'ly paid for for occasions like decoration day ceremonies. the head stone is what stays out "forever" and has the soldier's name and other appropriate data engraved on or in it......mac ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald M McClure" <rmcclure@hot.rr.com> To: <iadecatu@rootsweb.com> Cc: <decctyva@grm.net> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:38 AM Subject: Re: [IADECATU] Veterans > bob: i don't understand her clarification at all......is she saying that > the va won't provide new stones, replacement stones, and/or initial > stones for unmarked or badly marked graves? > > is she saying that earl hanthorn through the leon lions paid for markers > for all veterans buried in leon cemetery?.....or is she saying that the > lions and hanthorn requested the va provided the markers and va then did > so? i find it exceedingly difficult to believe than anyone paid anything > to the va for markers for veterans....... > > is the county board of supervisors saying they'll provide the markers > alluded to or are they saying the va will provide the marker......... > > and what's that business about "purchasing" markers from the VA all > about........can you confirm that with her......that she's gonna charge 25 > bucks to provide a marker for anyone that died more'n 3 years ago? > > something stinks in denmark!.......mac > > cc: samantha schaff > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob Bixby" <rjbixby@grm.net> > To: <iadecatu@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 2:52 PM > Subject: [IADECATU] Veterans > > >> Here is a clarification from Samatha in the Veteran's office here in >> Leon. >> Bob Bixby >> >> Bob, let me clarify what your messages say below. Earl Hanthorn, through >> Leon Lions, provided markers to all Veterans buried in the Leon Cemetery >> up >> to July 1, 2007. After July 1, 2007, the County Board of Supervisors >> said >> they would provide a bronze grave marker at any cemetery in Decatur >> County >> to any honorably discharged Veteran that died on or after July 1, 2007. >> However, if a Veteran that was buried in a cemetery other than the Leon >> Cemetery before July 1, 2007, the family of the deceased Veteran can >> purchase a bronze grave marker from the Decatur County Veterans Affairs >> office for $25. >> Thanks, Samantha Schaff, Decatur County VA Office, decctyva@grm.net, >> 641-446-7494 >> www.iagenweb.org/decatur >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IADECATU-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >