Casey Sheehan's Grave Marker
Netlore Archive: Email flier accuses anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan of 'not bothering' to place a tombstone over the grave of her son, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in the Iraq war in 2004
Description: Email flier
Circulating since: March 2006
Status: Denied by Cindy Sheehan
Analysis: See below
Email example contributed by Larry B., 3 April 2006:
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Subject: Fw: Do You Know What This Picture Is? This'll make your blood boil. Thought this might just interest some of y'all.. I think it's noteworthy! 
Obviously, it's a picture in a cemetery. What cemetery and whose grave. Yes, it's sadly the grave of Casey Sheehan. After two years, and a DoD payment of $250,000 to the "Peace Mom", she has not had the time or bothered to have a headstone placed on this young hero's grave. And, she doesn't even have to pay for one, the DoD will provide one: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. For all deaths occurring before September 11, 2001, the VA may provide a headstone or marker only for graves that are not marked with a private headstone. Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains." She can find time to protest on at least 3 continents, get arrested various times, go on vacation in Hawaii, have photo ops with the Marxists in Venezuela but can't seem to find the time to properly mark her son's grave. |
Comments: As of this writing, it is true that the gravesite of Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who died in action two years ago in Baghdad, Iraq, is marked only with a simple placard; but it is not true, says his mother, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, that the reason no headstone has yet been placed on the grave is because she "doesn't have time" or "can't be bothered" to do so.
The real reason, Sheehan has explained in a Web-published response to criticism of her handling of the gravesite, is grief.
"For the first year after Casey was killed, I didn't want to believe it," she writes. "I didn't want to place a TOMBstone on my son's grave. I didn't want one more marble proof that my son was dead. I couldn't even call where he was buried a 'cemetery,' I had to call it 'Casey's Park.' I placed fresh flowers in the cup every week and journaled there almost on a daily basis, and often laid on it and fell asleep and dreamed of my needlessly killed son."
Harsh personal attacks
The media-dubbed "Peace Mom" clearly feels stung by the harshness of the personal attacks against her over this issue, attacks whose real motivation has more to do with her outspoken opposition to the Iraq war than with the propriety of her gravesite caretaking. A previous smear campaign falsely accused her of abandoning her family when Casey was young and refusing to participate in his upbringing.
Sheehan has also charged that funeral arrangements for Casey were complicated by problems securing proper payment for the cemetery plot through a local mortuary, which controlled funds allocated by the government. Steve Nadeau, the owner of the mortuary, denies this allegation.
The small plaque that currently marks the plot is standard on gravesites for which a headstone has not yet been made, says Patrick Sheehan, Casey's father. According to the Vacaville Reporter, one has been ordered and is under construction at a local monument manufacturer.
Related:
The "Real" Cindy Sheehan
Email flier claims that Cindy Sheehan never really cared about her son, Casey, while he was growing up and in fact abandoned him to be raised by her "ex-husband" so she could pursue her "liberal, feminist agenda."
Sources and further reading:
A Markerless Grave in Vacaville
by Cindy Sheehan, Truthout.org, 11 April 2006'Peace Mom' Defends Gravestone Choice
Vacaville Reporter, 16 April 2006Funeral Home Director Rebuts 'Peace Mom's' Story
Vacaville Reporter, 18 April 2006
Last updated: 04/25/06
