thedrifter
10-09-07, 10:44 AM
Family wants impostor out of vet’s grave
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 9, 2007 6:51:14 EDT
NEW YORK — When Willie Hayes’ family began arranging his burial at a veterans’ cemetery, they were shocked to learn that the body of a man with the same name, Social Security number and military honors was already there.
Now the family wants the impostor, who was buried in 2003, removed from Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island.
“If he didn’t serve in the Army, he shouldn’t be there. It’s not fair to the veterans. He stole my brother’s identity,” Hayes brother, Sylvester, said in a telephone interview Monday.
The real Willie Hayes, who died Sept. 30 at age 59, was buried Friday, but only after the family and a funeral home in Harlem provided Calverton with documentation of his military service, including the medals he earned.
Calverton, which is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, issued a statement Monday saying it was looking into the matter.
“This was an unusual occurrence for Calverton National Cemetery and our staff will continue to work with county, state and federal government officials to determine the exact identity of the other Willie Hayes,” the statement said.
The cemetery said it had verified the information for the Willie Hayes who died last month and authorized the funeral service and burial last week.
A call for comment to VA was answered with a recording that said it was closed for the holiday.
Isaiah Owens, the funeral home owner who helped arrange the burial, said it was difficult to learn the impostor’s real identity because he had no relatives and his burial was arranged by the city.
The family doesn’t “want someone to be making a mockery of someone they love,” he said. “They don’t want an impostor there with his information. They want to know when that person will be moved or the name changed.”
Ellie
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 9, 2007 6:51:14 EDT
NEW YORK — When Willie Hayes’ family began arranging his burial at a veterans’ cemetery, they were shocked to learn that the body of a man with the same name, Social Security number and military honors was already there.
Now the family wants the impostor, who was buried in 2003, removed from Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island.
“If he didn’t serve in the Army, he shouldn’t be there. It’s not fair to the veterans. He stole my brother’s identity,” Hayes brother, Sylvester, said in a telephone interview Monday.
The real Willie Hayes, who died Sept. 30 at age 59, was buried Friday, but only after the family and a funeral home in Harlem provided Calverton with documentation of his military service, including the medals he earned.
Calverton, which is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, issued a statement Monday saying it was looking into the matter.
“This was an unusual occurrence for Calverton National Cemetery and our staff will continue to work with county, state and federal government officials to determine the exact identity of the other Willie Hayes,” the statement said.
The cemetery said it had verified the information for the Willie Hayes who died last month and authorized the funeral service and burial last week.
A call for comment to VA was answered with a recording that said it was closed for the holiday.
Isaiah Owens, the funeral home owner who helped arrange the burial, said it was difficult to learn the impostor’s real identity because he had no relatives and his burial was arranged by the city.
The family doesn’t “want someone to be making a mockery of someone they love,” he said. “They don’t want an impostor there with his information. They want to know when that person will be moved or the name changed.”
Ellie