By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – As Memorial Day honors service members, one local high school student is honoring those that have fallen through grave markers.
Tom Brady, a junior at Normal Community High School has been setting grave markers for over two-years all through McLean and surrounding counties.
“The process starts with the discharge from the military and then after the Veteran dies the family will order a stone,” said Brady. “Our job is to go out and set that stone.”
Tom Brady said the process takes around two-months from start to finish to complete. (Photo Courtesy: Dan Brady)
At no cost to military family’s through a reimbursement from the Veterans Affairs, Brady said the process takes around two-months from start to finish to complete. Stemming from a deep love for the Civil War, Tom’s father, State Rep. Dan Brady of the 105th District said he’s proud of his sons accomplishments.
“He’s at the mercy of the Veterans Administrations, once they make the marker and send it to our funeral home firm (Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home), and then he schedules a time he can do it,” added Dan Brady. “He has to work on his social skills of talking to people at the cemetery finding out locations of where the individual may be buried.”
Dan Brady added its a process that takes place through every season as time allows.
“It’s a process he works through as he files with the State Veterans Affairs through a voucher reimbursement to set the marker. It also helps him with the disability challenge of Asperger’s that he has on the autism spectrum, so it is a good way to sharpen his skills.”
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
