(La Porte, IN) - Local veterans' groups were thanked last night for having fallen trees toppled during last week’s storm removed from a La Porte cemetery.

 

The caretaker at Patton Cemetery, Scott Harris, was not able to financially afford having the trees removed this time after having it done himself on previous occasions.    Since a lot of veterans are buried there, the local veterans' groups were approached about helping with the clean-up and repairs to things like headstones.

 

Mayor Tom Dermody recognized the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, the American Legion and the mayor’s veterans’ committee during last night’s city council meeting.

 

“What do you do when you need help, especially when veterans are there and need to have the respect of being buried in a place that their family can be proud of.  They all came through,” he said.

 

Harris thanked councilman Roger Galloway, a local veteran and VFW member, for his help with the clean-up.

 

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful cemetery with no money and it’s a lot to take care of.  Everybody appreciates all that you do,” he said.

 

Members of the veterans groups are now coming up with ideas to fund future tree removal and repairs at the cemetery.