TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Decorations On Veteran's Gravesite Spark Controversy

News Channel 8 photo by JOHN WINTERROWD

The city of Inverness has asked that most of the flags be removed saying the decorations are in violation of the rules and regulations for Oak Ridge cemetery.

ADVERTISEMENT

By SAMARA SODOS

News Channel 8

Published: November 10, 2008

INVERNESS - Sgt. Robert Surber was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when a bomb exploded near his vehicle on June 3, 2007. He and three other U.S. Army soldiers died in the blast.

Now the family says they are not being allowed to properly honor Surber and the sacrifice he made for his country. Officials with the public cemetery in Inverness have told family members they and Surber's friends are placing too many flags and items on his gravesite.

"That we had to take the American flags from my son who gave his life for this country, I just didn't believe it. I couldn't understand why they asked us to do that," said Surber's mother, Kerri Surber. "The one thing I have left of my son they want to take away from me."

The grave is marked with more than 20 flags and a variety of other items, from a guitar pick to sunglasses. The number of flags multiplied as word of the controversy spread through the community.

"Everybody that leaves things here, I mean those things have significance to them, and it was something personal between them and Bobby," said Kerri Surber. "And I just can't take them away."

Inverness officials say the excessive number of flags, an unpermitted marble bench and other ornaments are in violation of the rules. They say they appreciate the family's desire to honor Surber but are only trying to enforce cemetery rules fairly.

"This is not a flag issue," said Pati Smith with the Inverness parks and recreation department. "We're enforcing the rules and regulations the best we can pertaining to that cemetery. Nobody's perfect. You have to respect everyone that's out there."

According to the city, flags are considered decorative objects and cannot be placed on a gravesite for longer than 90 days.

Flags are not specifically mentioned in the rules and regulations for the cemetery so the city sought advice from the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. The National Cemetery permits one flag on a gravesite of a veteran and it remains there for 10 days. After 10 days, it is removed.

It is unclear what the City of Inverness plans to work out with the Surber family but both sides say they hope to resolve the issue.

If not, Kerri Surber's longtime boyfriend Ray Cubero doesn't plan on removing the flags. If the city removes them, Cubero intends to raise "holy hell." "They're not going to take these flags," said Cubero. "There are a million other veterans who will back me up."

Robert Surber was born in Inverness and graduated from Citrus High School, his mother said. He enlisted in January 2002 and went to Iraq in June 2006, the Army said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT