Nov 4, 2009 12:36 am US/Eastern
Mom Moves Closer To Burial With Soldier Son
MANSFIELD (WBZ) ―
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Denise Anderson with her son Spc. Corey Shea
WBZ
Denise Anderson of Mansfield clutches the metal dog tags she wears on a chain around her neck, keeping them close to her heart.
They belonged to her son, U.S. Army Specialist Corey Shea.
"These are his original dog tags that he was wearing the day he was killed."
Shea, 21, was killed in Iraq, November 12, 2008.
Anderson remembers coming home to find an Army official waiting for her at her house with the gut-wrenching news.
"I just felt like I lost myself," she said.
After burying her first born child in a grave in the National Cemetery in Bourne, Anderson contacted the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office to ask if she could be buried next to him when she dies.
Her request was denied.
Under current law, only a spouse or minor children can be buried with a loved one in a national military cemetery.
Corey Shea was unmarried and had no children.
His mom just wanted to make sure he wasn't alone forever, so she wrote everyone she could think of to try and change the law.
Her husband, Corey's stepfather, Jeff Margolin says Anderson has spent a lot of sleepless nights working on the bill, known as the Corey Shea Act.
"She's up all night, 'til four, five, six in the morning writing to all the different senators and congressmen."
Last month, with the help of Congressman Barney Frank, she testified before a House subcommittee.
Her words hit home.
On Tuesday, the full
House overwhelmingly passed the bill.
Anderson says she's grateful.
"I don't think I'm asking for that much considering what I've lost," she said.
"I lost my son."
It has been a tough year and a difficult fight, but this mom on a mission finds strength in her son.
"Corey's my hero, (he) always will be," she said.
"I'm proud of him."
And he can be proud of her.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where Anderson says it has the support of Senator John Kerry.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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