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FAMILY WANTS IMPOSTER REMOVED FROM GRAVE

AT VETERANS' CEMETERY -- "If he didn't serve in

the Army, he shouldn't be there. It's not fair to

the veterans. He stole my brother's identity."

This is a bizarre story.

I'll bet the VA has some explaining to do.

Be sure to watch the video of this story...click here...
http://player.clipsyndicate.com/view/402/415522

For more about veterans' cemeteries, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/
sessearch.php?q=cemet
ery+cemeteries&op=or

Story here... http://ap.google.com/
article/ALeqM5gEQLxBXGBDspO
6vUqqGOKtDLUT8wD8S5FDP80

Story below:

-------------------------

Family Wants Impostor Removed From Grave

NEW YORK (AP) — When the family of a Harlem man began arranging his burial at a veterans' cemetery, they were shocked to learn that the body of a man with the same name, Social Security number and military honors was already there.

Now Willie Hayes' family wants the remains of the man, who was buried in 2003, removed from Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island.

"If he didn't serve in the Army, he shouldn't be there. It's not fair to the veterans. He stole my brother's identity," Hayes' brother, Sylvester, said in a telephone interview Monday.

The real Willie Hayes, who died Sept. 30 at age 59, was buried Friday, but only after the family and a funeral home in Harlem provided Calverton with documentation of his military service, including the medals he earned.

Calverton, which is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, issued a statement Monday saying it was looking into the matter.

The cemetery said it had verified the information for the Willie Hayes who died last month and authorized the funeral service and burial last week.

A call for comment to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was answered with a recording that said it was closed for the holiday.

Isaiah Owens, the funeral home owner who helped arrange the burial, said it was difficult to learn the real identity of the man buried in the plot because he had no relatives and his burial was arranged by the city.

The family doesn't "want someone to be making a mockery of someone they love," he said.

-------------------------

Larry Scott  --

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