Man tried to sell 300 stolen veteran grave markers

Attempted sale of stolen Pa. veteran grave markers ends in arrest: police
PennLive
By Steve Marroni
August 21, 2018

Roughly 300 grave markers for veterans went missing from some Pennsylvania cemeteries.

Ronald Cichenelli Jr., of Johnstown, is facing charges after police say he tried to sell 300 stolen veteran grave markers at a scrap-metal yard in Waterloo, New York. (Screenshot/WJAC)

But when police say a Johnstown man tried to sell the 1,000 pounds of brass at a scrap-metal yard, employees called the police.

State police started the investigation when they were alerted about a man trying to get cash for the grave markers in Waterloo, New York, the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat is reporting.

Employees at the recycling center noticed some of the grave marker were stamped with "Cambria County Ebensburg, PA," prompting them to alert the authorities, according to reports.
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Vietnam Veterans Remembered in Bushnell

Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery honors Vietnam War vets
WFLA News
Jeff Patterson
March 27, 2018

BUSHNELL, Fla. (WFLA) - Bruce Burnham is a historian and Vietnam combat veteran.

The Tampa native served as an MP in Vietnam in 1972 and 1973.

During his tour of duty, he earned the Bronze Star for bravery.

Tuesday, Burnham was the keynote speaker in a ceremony to honor others who served.

"That was a very, very difficult time for many of us who just wanted to come back and be normal again," said Burnham.

The gathering at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell was small.

Burnham believes it is because many Vietnam vets still shy away from ceremonies and talking about their service in public because of the way they were treated by protestors when they returned from the war.
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Over 1 Million Volunteers Lay Wreaths in Remembrance

This organization honors fallen soldiers with graveside wreaths
TUE, DEC 19
With over 1 million volunteers, Wreaths Across America has paid tribute to veterans with over 1.5 million wreaths at 1,422 cemeteries nationwide.

Marine Veteran Carves Honors For Fallen Brothers

Marine Corps vet travels cross-country delivering unique sculptures
Pieces intended to honor fellow Marines
KSAT News
By Adrian Ortega
July 16, 2017

Marine Corps veteran Anthony Marquez served in the same unit as Lance Cpl. John Felix Farias, who was killed during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, along with 16 other Marines in his unit.

Now, Marquez is determined to honor each fallen hero with a wooden sculpture of the battlefield cross. He carefully crafts the boots, rifle and helmet with a chainsaw.

"At times, it seems overwhelming, (like), ‘How am I going to complete all this?’” Marquez said. “But it's just one at a time."

The project is a personal mission fueled by a passion. He takes great pride in honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The task has taken him across the country, and on Sunday, it brought him to Fort Houston National Cemetery, where rows of markers were lined up like military members standing at attention.
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He Didn't Serve With the Living, But Honors the Dead

‘The Good Cemeterian’: Man Honors Veterans by Cleaning Headstones
NBC News
by PHIL MCCAUSLAND and KERRY SANDERS
May 29, 2017

"I feel connected to them," Lumish said. "And it's very important for me to be able to tell their story and I love to be able to show these individuals and show their accomplishments."

Andrew Lumish cleans the headstones of fallen soldiers.

One Florida man has taken it upon himself to help restore a Tampa graveyard and its veterans' headstones.

Though he has never served in the military, Andrew Lumish, 46, spends his little free time scrubbing and cleaning soldiers' gravestones — some dating back to the Civil War — in the L'Unione Italiana Cemetery.

Known as "The Good Cemeterian," Lumish found the headstones while pursuing his passion for photography. He thought they were beautiful but was bothered by the amount of dirt, mold and mildew that had overtaken them. Some of the men buried there did not have families to take care of their gravesites, so he stepped in to provide a little elbow grease and honor the fallen veterans.
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Marine Veteran Honors Fallen Friend, With Country Music at Cemetary

Veteran plays music at grave of fallen comrade
ABC News 10
Anne State
Nov 23, 2016

SAN DIEGO - A Marine veteran continues to give thanks at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Simon Sandoval visits the cemetery often, and he plays music for fallen service members. While he has lost many friends during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, his good friend, Lance Cpl. Jason Hill, is his only friend buried at Fort Rosecrans.

"I play a little bit of country music for him since he's a country boy," said Sandoval.

10News was there as Sandoval cued up the music on his phone, adding, "I think he still likes listening."

Sandoval said of Hill: "He was one of my fine young men."

Hill, a native of Poway, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Shortly after his death, his friends gathered at the family home and described Hill as loyal, funny and charming. They said he was proud to serve his country.
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