Memorial tree planted after 2-year dispute

Memorial tree planted after 2-year dispute
By Russ Bynum - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 9:21:19 EST

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Suzette DeTulio cried, then smiled Thursday as Fort Stewart unveiled a granite marker engraved with her son's name at the root of a newly planted tree — an overdue honor the soldier's mother had to fight for him to receive two years after his death.

Pfc. Ryan D. Christensen died in November 2005 and was initially denied a memorial tree at Warriors Walk, where the Army's 3rd Infantry Division has honored its dead from Iraq since 2003, because he died from an infection at a U.S. hospital rather than in combat overseas.

DeTulio, of Brick, N.J., lobbied the Army for nearly a year until Fort Stewart commanders changed their minds and agreed last month to plant a memorial tree for 24-year-old Christensen, who got sick in Iraq a month before he died.

“It was hurtful and we were angry, but we're grateful now,'' DeTulio said as she hung a cross on a silver chain from the lowest branch of the eastern redbud tree planted for her son. “He was a part of the unit, and this is what the unit was doing for all of them.''

Since the first trees were planted at Warriors Walk in April 2003, the memorial grove has grown to include 381 trees — one for each soldier from the 3rd Infantry and affiliated units killed in Iraq.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_stewarttree_080118/