Through DNA analysis, his sister Lillian
Anderson was told her older brother’s remains had been identified.
During the procession Tuesday, Anderson was presented with a flag from the Marine Corps League from Morgantown. Anderson said having her brother home will give his family closure after 63 years.
“We’re just thankful that something has been returned,” she said.
Marine veteran Bob Carr, with the Marine Corps League, presented the flag to Anderson on Tuesday. Carr attends church with Anderson and said the league decided to show its respect to Groves.
Carr said because Groves was 17 years old when he left Marion County, he never got to see it again.
“Here he is coming back all these years later,” Carr said. “He never got to have a life. His life was fighting, and fighting until he died a prisoner of war.”
Marine veteran Paul Walton, with the Marine Corps League, said presenting the flag to Anderson was “the right thing to do.”
“When a veteran, before he’s a veteran, goes to war and dies, like this gentleman did, he has no honors for all the time he’s over there,” Walton said. “Now he’s coming home.”
Walton said every veteran needs to be honored when he comes home from a combat situation. Tuesday was the welcome home for Groves.
Other veterans came out to welcome Groves home, including two Purple Heart recipients: Ron Watkins, who served in the Vietnam War, and Richard Stout, who served in World War II. Watkins came because he knows Groves’ family and wanted to welcome him home.
“It’s an honor and privilege to see him coming back after all this time,” Watkins said. “Knowing what he went through, all veterans are feeling proud today. This is a hero.”
Stout said he came to Tuesday’s procession because he wanted to recognize Groves for his service to the country.
“Being a veteran, I appreciate what he went through,” Stout said.
Groves’ remains were returned to the United States after being buried in a mass grave in North Korea. Groves’ niece Sandra Buswink said she was doing research on the Internet and found that those who have relatives listed as POWs who have not yet been identified can give their DNA and see if it matches any remains in the system.
Buswink and Anderson arranged to give samples of their blood to see if it matched anyone on Jan. 5, 2006. It wasn’t until two months ago that the family was told a match had been found.
After eight years of wondering if a match would be found, Anderson and Buswink finally knew their brother and uncle could come home.
Every Memorial Day, Anderson and Buswink go to the cemetery and decorate service members’ graves, but they have been unable to pay tribute to Groves in the same way. With Groves’ remains coming back to be buried at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown with full military honors, Anderson said she looks forward to the opportunity to have a place where her family can honor a fallen brother who gave his life in defense of the country.
“We can go pay respects to him,” she said.
During the procession Tuesday, Anderson was presented with a flag from the Marine Corps League from Morgantown. Anderson said having her brother home will give his family closure after 63 years.
“We’re just thankful that something has been returned,” she said.
Marine veteran Bob Carr, with the Marine Corps League, presented the flag to Anderson on Tuesday. Carr attends church with Anderson and said the league decided to show its respect to Groves.
Carr said because Groves was 17 years old when he left Marion County, he never got to see it again.
“Here he is coming back all these years later,” Carr said. “He never got to have a life. His life was fighting, and fighting until he died a prisoner of war.”
Marine veteran Paul Walton, with the Marine Corps League, said presenting the flag to Anderson was “the right thing to do.”
“When a veteran, before he’s a veteran, goes to war and dies, like this gentleman did, he has no honors for all the time he’s over there,” Walton said. “Now he’s coming home.”
Walton said every veteran needs to be honored when he comes home from a combat situation. Tuesday was the welcome home for Groves.
Other veterans came out to welcome Groves home, including two Purple Heart recipients: Ron Watkins, who served in the Vietnam War, and Richard Stout, who served in World War II. Watkins came because he knows Groves’ family and wanted to welcome him home.
“It’s an honor and privilege to see him coming back after all this time,” Watkins said. “Knowing what he went through, all veterans are feeling proud today. This is a hero.”
Stout said he came to Tuesday’s procession because he wanted to recognize Groves for his service to the country.
“Being a veteran, I appreciate what he went through,” Stout said.
Groves’ remains were returned to the United States after being buried in a mass grave in North Korea. Groves’ niece Sandra Buswink said she was doing research on the Internet and found that those who have relatives listed as POWs who have not yet been identified can give their DNA and see if it matches any remains in the system.
Buswink and Anderson arranged to give samples of their blood to see if it matched anyone on Jan. 5, 2006. It wasn’t until two months ago that the family was told a match had been found.
After eight years of wondering if a match would be found, Anderson and Buswink finally knew their brother and uncle could come home.
Every Memorial Day, Anderson and Buswink go to the cemetery and decorate service members’ graves, but they have been unable to pay tribute to Groves in the same way. With Groves’ remains coming back to be buried at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown with full military honors, Anderson said she looks forward to the opportunity to have a place where her family can honor a fallen brother who gave his life in defense of the country.
“We can go pay respects to him,” she said.
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