Family of fallen Marine needs help getting to son's funeral

[rsmith6621]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99676079.html

SEATTLE -- A Marine corporal's family is falling through cracks after he was killed in the line of duty. They can't afford to fly to the funeral in Louisiana and the military won't cover that cost. But you can help them say their goodbyes.

Cpl. Joe Wrightsman was a Marine's, Marine.

"He liked to be out front," said his father John Wrightsman. "He was one of the guys who like to be right out front,."

But the 23 year old was also a jokester with his fellow Marines.

"Funny, kind of goofy, can be goofy," John Wrightsman said.


SAD SAD SAD....WE $hit on our heros and their familys....

[Maine-ah]

1. I know many here don't like FB

but, I posted this to my page, perhaps others on FB will as well. Could be a great way to get the word out for this family.

Is it normal for the military to not help families get to the funerals of their loved ones?

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. The military will ship the body to where the funeral will be held

Presumably most families discuss the matter and have the funeral in a place where it makes the most sense for the family. According to the article, this marine will be buried in Arlington, and his mother is having a separate funeral in Louisiana. It seems to me the family could have just as easily said, we're going to bury him in a veteran's cemetery in Seattle, and held the funeral there.

On edit -- the article is ambiguous on this point, but it seems to say the military is paying for the family's trip to Arlington for the burial, just not to Louisiana for the separate memorial service.