Veteran's Remains To Be Moved After Error At Cemetery - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

A mistake is made at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, and now an Army veteran from Killeen must be dug up and buried again.

57-year old Donald Finley Sr. was buried on October 12, after succumbing to pancreatic cancer on the 3rd. 

Now a mix-up over the location of his grave is causing heartache for his family.

His daughter Felicia describes his grave as she solemnly approaches it, "We're walking up to my dad's spot, and my mom's spot should have been next to him."

She's still coping with losing her father, and the circumstances surrounding his burial aren't making it any easier.

"I feel that he's not resting here," she says.

Due to an error at the cemetery, Donald was buried at the end of a row, leaving no room for his wife, Barbara, who has a contract for a plot next to him.

Soon he will have to be moved.

Their son, Fred says, "There's nothing that can make this right, because they have to dig him up."

Both Felicia and Fred are dreading watching their family go through yet another funeral for their dad.

"To see my mother get all sad and start crying and stuff again, it's actually rather hurtful," said Fred.

"I hate it. I can't stand that," added Felicia.

Premiere Cemetery Service Corporation, the company that runs the cemetery suspended two workers without pay.

The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) is investigating.

In a statement, a spokesperson for agency said, "The Veterans Land Board is committed to providing a dignified resting place for the more than 3,800 Texas veterans who have earned their spot in these hallowed grounds."

For now, Felicia is waiting for her parents final vow to be fulfilled.

"My dad promised her they'd be together in the end," she said.

The VLB is working with the company that runs the cemetery to make sure this doesn't happen again.

The agency's press secretary says the operator will likely be fined.

It's still not clear what caused the mistake.

The VLB's statement also says, it's working to find out and fix it.

Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com

Photographer: Chris Buford cbufird@kcentv.com