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Grave Rules May Be Amended

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.

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By KEITH MORELLI

kmorelli@tampatrib.com

Published: November 15, 2008

INVERNESS - Rules that govern what items of remembrance can adorn gravesites - particularly graves of veterans - may be amended, thanks to an argument over flags around the burial plot of a native son killed in Iraq.

The controversy surrounds the grave of Robert Surber, an Army sergeant killed by a bomb last year. Surber's loved ones have placed American flags around his grave in Oak Ridge Cemetery, which is maintained by the city.

However, the flags are a violation of the city's rules.

In the wake of publicity, city officials decided to launch a committee to examine cemetery rules, according to Surber's family.

"The city is going to set up a panel to include us and veterans and anybody in the community to change the rules in the cemetery," said Raymond Cubero, Surber's stepfather.

The development in the flag kerfuffle is considered a win for the family, he said.

"We are so happy," he said.

Surber, who graduated from Citrus High School, enlisted in 2002 and was sent to Iraq in 2006. He was killed June 3, 2007, when a bomb exploded near his vehicle. The blast also killed three other U.S. soldiers.

The family opted to bury Surber in the city cemetery rather than a national cemetery so he could be closer to his loved ones, Cubero said.

"Bobby wanted to come home," Cubero said, "and we don't want him far away from us ever again."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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