Note: This article was originally published on Jan. 6, 2005. We’re re-posting it now for our Colorado’s Fallen tribute.
Arlington, Va. – Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe was the first casualty
of Iraq to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, an honor for
which all combat deaths are eligible.
But since Rippetoe’s death in April 2003, 18 other service members
who listed Colorado as their home state have died and none has been
buried in Arlington, resisting a national trend of increasing
interest in the hallowed military ground across the Potomac River
from Washington. Rippetoe had lived in Broomfield and Arvada.
With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, higher percentages of war
casualties are coming to Arlington – more than during any other
major U.S. military conflict since the 1950s, according to
Arlington’s website.
Eight percent of 1,300 killed in Iraq through Dec. 14 were interred
in Arlington, along with 9 percent of 153 killed in Afghanistan.
Rippetoe, 27, whose parents had just moved to Maryland, is among
them. “We want to be where we can be close to our son,” said Joe
Rippetoe, who, along with his wife, Rita, plans to be buried
alongside their son.
Families and military historians say relatives in Western states
might not choose Arlington because survivors want to stay close to
their loved ones.
“The distance would probably be the most significant factor in not
coming,” said the cemetery’s historian, Tom Sherlock.
But he added, “If you talked to 90 different families that didn’t
(choose Arlington), you’d have 90 different reasons.”
Penelope and Chris Gavriel of Haverhill, Mass., initially disagreed
on where to bury their son, Lance Cpl. Dimitrios Gavriel, killed in
Iraq in November. Chris preferred burial in Linwood Cemetery, 500
feet from their home; Penelope wanted Arlington.
Finally, they chose Arlington, Chris said, because “we’d rather
have him there among his other fallen friends.”
Military historians say the cemetery may appeal to families because
it is steeped in tradition, a place where generals are buried next
to privates because the military considers its own equal in death.
“Arlington is where we bury our heroes,” said Sherlock. Rippetoe taped a note to his locker saying that if he were killed,
he wanted to come to Arlington.
Other Coloradans, like the family of Staff Sgt. Mark Lawton, who
was killed in Iraq in 2003, chose a local cemetery. He was buried
in the Hayden Cemetery.
