Family of fallen US soldier divided over military funeral honors

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031113/ts_alt_afp/us_iraq_casualty&cid=1506&ncid=1473

CHICAGO (AFP) - A US helicopter pilot who died in a deadly ambush in Iraq last week will be buried in a church graveyard without military honors at the request of his mother.

Rosemarie Dietz Slavenas refused to use a casket provided by the military and asked that her son's coffin not be draped with a US flag in a decision that has created something of a family rift, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Her ex-husband, Ronald Slavenas, and one of the 30-year-old soldier's brothers reportedly wanted a formal military commemoration. snip

Dietz Slavenas told the Tribune that her son had tried to resign his commission rather than go to Iraq, but the military had blocked his resignation.

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[Cha]

1. Omg! That's what almost happened to one of our

own..Mari's son ..only he was more fortunate! Poor thing.

[drewb]

2. I think the mother's wishes for her son should be honored...

It's terrible that it has to come down to this...


For those that remember, is this what it was like during Vietnam?

[Beaker]

3. they flew helicoptors over the funeral.

Considering the mother's wishes, a pretty shitty thing to do, all-in-all.