MOH Cpl. Dakota Meyer wants fallen honored instead of himself

Families of Fallen to Gather at Graves for MoH Ceremony

September 14, 2011
Knight Ridder/Tribune|by Kurt Madar
FARMINGTON, N.M. -- Charlene Westbrook will be at her husband's grave Thursday in Shiprock when Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer receives his Medal of Honor.

Meyer is being awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor because of his actions during an ambush in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of five U.S. troops, including Charlene's husband, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Westbrook.

"Dakota asked for the families of the men that fell that day to be at the grave sites of the fallen," Charlene said. "Dakota is receiving his medal on the behalf of my husband and the others that fell that day."

Meyer also requested that local veterans provide a flag line at each of the fallen troops' graves to coincide with the ceremony in Washington, D.C., where President Obama will present the medal.
The flag line, courtesy of the local chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Shiprock veteran's cemetery.
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