7 people buried in the wrong graves at veterans’ cemetery in Rhode Island
(FOX)- Seven people were buried in the wrong graves at a veterans’ cemetery because grave markers in one row were off by a burial plot.
Veterans Affairs Director Kasim Yarn apologized on Monday for the grave mix-up.
“We recognize our cemetery is hallowed ground, and we did not meet our obligation to our veterans, their loved ones who are buried here or the families and the veterans who continue to come to our cemetery to pay their respects,” he said at his office in Warwick.
Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery workers left two spaces instead of one to transfer the remains of a veteran’s father in November 2010. The extra space wasn’t accounted for when permanent grave markers were added that spring. Consequently, 21 grave markers were off.
The dead people and the markers were moved this past weekend. Families are being contacted.
Yarn said he believes the mistake was an isolated incident, and he said no staff members are being disciplined.