Carlos Arredondo is a friend of mine; a friend linked through tragedy. He lost his son in Iraq, I lost my brother. Over the last three years, we have marched together and shared stories. He is one of the most decent human beings I know. Carlos is a one of a kind personality, thrust into a role as an anti-war activist. And now, most likely in retaliation for his efforts to end the war, his son's grave has been defaced.
UPDATE: jimstaro found this link to pictures of Carlos getting stomped by the Gathering of Eagles on 9/15.
I received a press release sent to my father from Carlos' wife, Melida Arredondo:
Walpole, Massachusetts – In a Boston suburb, vandals defaced the gravestone of a 20-year-old Marine who lost his life to a sniper’s bullet while on his second tour of duty on Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, USMC was laid to rest on September 4, 2004 in Rural Cemetery located in Walpole, Massachusetts, and the site of a family-owned plot. "The vandalism took place sometime prior to September 28th", according to Carlos Arredondo, Alex’s father who last visited the gravesite days before.
Arredondo Senior frequently visits the cemetery to keep his son’s plot decorated and neat. On Sunday, October 28th, 2007 an Iraqi American doctor, a videographer and two Viet Nam war veterans requested that Carlos and his wife, Mélida lead them to a visit to Rural Cemetery to pay homage to Alex. "All of us were stunned and saddened by this act of desecration," stated Mélida Arredondo.
The Walpole police department was called immediately and a report was filed. Carlos and his son Brian Arredondo returned to the gravesite the following day to clean the tombstone and to sand the scratches out of the granite. The pictures above were taken prior to cleaning. If you have information on this matter, please contact the Walpole Police Department at (508) 668-1095 or by sending an email to info@walpolepd.com.
Alex, as friends and family called him, was 20 years and 20 days old when he was killed while part of the siege in An Najaf, Iraq on 08/25/04.
A second troop who was killed while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom is also buried at Rural Cemetery. No sign of vandalism or disturbance was noted at that or any other gravesite.
I've posted pictures hereand here.
Carlos travels the country with a flag drapped casket in the back of his pick-up. He carries pictures and distributes letters his son wrote about how proud he was to serve his country.
Carlos recently became a U.S. citizen so, "They can't send me to Guantanamo," he said.
Alex died on Carlos' birthday. When the Marine van came to tell him that his son was dead, he rushed outside, thinking his son was coming home to surprise him. Instead, he learned that Alex had been killed. Carlos asked the men to leave and they would not. Overcome with grief, he broke into the van, doused it with gasoline and set it, and himself, on fire. He survived and has vowed to do what he can to end the war.
Recently, Carlos was attacked at an anti-war demonstration. The story, as I've heard it, is that a group representing Gathering of Eagles ripped the picture of his son from his hands, knocked him down and kicked him. I am trying to get more information from other eye witnesses.
Carlos is a treasure. He represents his son with such great dignity, he engages anyone and everyone in conversation, he and his traveling memorial have brought the war to streets across America. That some coward would do this to Alex's grave in retribution is disgusting.
God help me, I am beyond angry.