Posted on 10/23/2013 3:21:10 AM PDT by markomalley
 In this Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, photo provided by the family of Kimberly Walker, shows Walker's gravestone in the likeness of popular cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. Despite getting prior approval for the gravestone from Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, the cemetery recently removed it, saying it did not fit in with the character of the historic and picturesque cemetery. |
Deborah Walker told The Associated Press after Tuesday's meeting with Spring Grove Cemetery officials that she'd consider their various proposals if they would think about hers - simply putting her daughter Kimberly's gravestone back.
But cemetery President Gary Freytag told the AP that isn't an option.
The headstone fashioned in the cartoon character's likeness was erected at Spring Grove Cemetery on Oct. 10, almost eight months after Kimberly Walker, 28, was found slain in a Colorado hotel room.
Despite getting the cemetery's prior approval of the headstone design - a smiling SpongeBob in an Army uniform, with Walker's name and rank - cemetery staff called her family the day after it was installed to say it would have to come down.
Cemetery officials said the employee who approved the design made a mistake. It was taken down along with a near-exact duplicate erected for Walker's living twin sister.
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
Being an OIF combat vet - being injured over there - and knowing 17 that died over there...all from IED explosions/attacks....I understand the family wanting to have that stone - but they must also consider the location and perspective of the other families that have laid their loved ones there as well...They want that stone - then they need to buy a private piece of land and put that up - with out standards...and soldiers ALL understand standards - then everyone would run amuck with whatever vile head stone they wanted - destroying the image of peace...yes, it needs to be removed and placed somewhere else - they need to have that fits the image of that cemetery — and YES - this is just another EMOTIONAL story from the press to divide people instead of concentrating on what’s MORE important!
I agree that it’s not an appropriate headstone; however, that is not the family’s problem.
This is yet another example of where people (in this case the cemetery) do not take responsibility for their decisions.
The family (according to the article) got pre-approval from the cemetery to place the “headstone”. They invested a large amount of coin ($13K) to have the “headstone” milled and placed.
The cemetery should have never approved the family’s request to use this headstone, but since they approved it then they need to take responsibility for the consequences of that decision.
The cemetery needs to take responsibility for their actions and either compensate the family for their losses or to pay to re-inter the body at a location where that headstone can be placed (if one can be found).
I don’t get this, was her daughter such a fanatical, obsessive Square Bob fan that she actually told her mother “Mom if I die I want Square BOb as my headstone”??? Say what?
I think the cemetery (if the part of per-approval is true) should buy a new headstone - and give the one to the family to do with as they see fit - and perhaps a contribution of funds to that end - leave the soldier where she is — she’s with comrades anyway at this point....
At a local cemetery here a man has a John Deere headstone in a horrible green color. Ugliest thing I ever saw.
In this particular cemetery at Halloween there are corn stalks and Ghosts and Goblins, and carved pumpkins, and anything else you can name. The place looks like a trash pile. At Christmas there are trees and toys and every other sort of crap. I suppose those buried there went there so they could trash up their loved ones graves, but I would be seen dead there.
But what about the $13k that the family invested based upon the pre-approval? (again, of course, if it's true that the cemetery did so)
Fire the employee, have written standards of what can be placed in the cemetery, buy the family a plot elsewhere or reimburse them for their utterly insane choice of headstone.
I agree with the cemetary
The cemetery might as well reimburse the family for their employee's error now and avoid the legal fees.
If the family spent 13k on that monstrosity they have more money than brains or taste. A cemetary is sacred ground and that doesn’t belong. Put it in the backyard if it means something to you but don’t impose it on the rest of the community looking for a sacred, dignified place to bury their loved ones.
If the relatives of the other “residents” don’t like the Sponge Bob tombstone...SB is probably going to take a fair amount of abuse.
A can of Krylon spray paint is only a couple of bucks at Lowe’s.
it is sad that so many here on FR dismiss this soldiers last wish, to be remembered and have a symbol represented at her grave sight, that others should respect and revere. it may not be a symbol that you agree with. i respect her decision and the decision of the family. i side with them.
i feel that it can make a trip to the cemetery less dreary... much like an angel head stone, or an bald eagle, or a cross, or statue of Jesus, yes, all these can be found offensive by shallow thinkers.
lighten up francis.
teeman
I wouldn’t want that hideous thing next to my father’s grave.
nowhere in the article does it say that's what the girl wanted as a marker but the families idea... The family believes the headstone was the only fitting tribute for her sister, a huge SpongeBob fan.
A small Sponge Bob engraved somewhere on a headstone of a normal shape would have worked.
It would be there for family’s memories and would not be noticeable to others.
bump
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