I recently came across an article in the Romulus, Michigan News Herald which you can read here.  The article was, in general, about two men — Charles Cawetzka and Greg Farino.

Farino is a retired U.S. Army Master Sargent and Cawetzka is a deceased U.S. Army veteran who served in the Philippine-American War in 1900.  The two men are bonded by the fact that Cawetzka lies deceased in the Romulus Cemetery and Farino is interested in learning about the military history of the area’s veterans.

What is interesting about Cawetzka, Farino learned, is that he was awarded the United States highest honor for valor – The Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism – but there is nothing to indicate that on his grave stone which was issued by the United States Veteran’s Department.

Farino went to the cemetery board meeting and it was decided to bring it to the city council to do something about he situation.  It turns out that cemetery trustees will put on a dinner at the Romulus Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) with the hope of raising enough money to memorialize the grave site.  The city and cemetery then plan to erect an additional monument telling of Cawetzka’s history and award.

Grandson Bruce Cawetzka said, according to the article, that the family is very surprised and thankful.  They plan to bring the actual Medal of Honor and certificate signed by President Theodore Roosevelt to the dinner.  “We have a lot of gratitude to the commission that’s doing this” he was quoted as saying.  “It’s very gracious of them.”

Farino for his part in this said, “Holy cow, I didn’t know a Medal of Honor recipient was buried anywhere near me. . . there is no higher honor  than the Medal of Honor. . . I just couldn’t let it go.”  Janet Lemmon, city board chairwoman continued,  “He wasn’t given his rightful due. . it’s important to his family, important to the cemetery and important to the city.  This was the honorable thing to do.”

Funeral Director Daily take:  When I read stories like this I get goosebumps.  So many people have done so much for us. . . paved the way for the country we live in or the business we now work in.  We need to never forget them. . . and honor them when the opportunity arises.

Our funeral home worked on something like this event when we discovered that we had a two time governor and five time United States Senator, who also happened to be a veteran of the Civil War, interred in our local cemetery.  While he had a nice monument there was no mention of his service to his country.  I worked with the local historical society and we were able to put a plaque telling of his history on his monument and also installed a flagpole with the ability to be lighted 24/7 to perpetually fly the Stars and Stripes over his grave.  It was just the right thing to do.

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