The Complete Issue - Korean War Veterans Association

‘Carnation Kid’ Earns Good Conduct Medal
Nine-year-old second grader Collin Kelly, of Framingham,
MA, drew national media attention in 2005 when some
trustees of the local Edgell Grove Cemetery banned the placement
of flowers on several deceased service members’ graves.
They said that the people placing the flowers had to be relatives
of the deceased.
Collin was afraid, however, that some of the veterans in the
cemetery were practically forgotten. He planned to place flowers
on some of the graves. So, Collin, with the backing of veterans
and active service veterans, persuaded the trustees to overturn the
ban. There were some compromises, e.g., flowers in plastic pots
that could be removed after Memorial Day rather than planting
flowers, but Collin got the privilege of placing his tributes to veterans.
Unfortunately, Collin, who is nicknamed the “Carnation Kid,”
fell ill and became a patient at the Children’s Hospital in Boston.
Nonetheless, the tradition of placing flowers on the soldiers’
graves at the cemetery on Memorial Day continued, as his brothers
pinch-hit for him. Enter KWVA members Brad Chase and
Vartkess Tarbassian, of Chapter 299.
In May 2007, Chase and Tarbassian presented Collin with a
Good Conduct Medal and a Proclamation at the hospital in honor
of his patriotism and good deed. The medal and proclamation
were well deserved—as were the flowers placed by the Kelly
brothers.
A Proclamation By Present
And Past Veterans
• Whereas, Collin Kelly of Framingham, Massachusetts has repeatedly
honored the fallen soldiers of “Metrowest” Massachusetts, at
the Edgell Grove Cemetery and elsewhere, and
• Whereas, we veterans extend to Collin Kelly our appreciation for
his constant efforts to honor the living veterans of our country’s
past and present wars,
• Therefore, we now award this medal to Collin Kelly and pray for
his quick and complete recovery.
/s/ W. Bradford Chase
/s/ Vartkess Tarbassian
Korean War Veterans Association
May 27, 2007
For the full story, access www.boston.com/news/local/articles/
2005/05/27/for_9_year_old_patriotism_flowers or www.
cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/26/earlyshow/main697923.shtml
Submitted by Vartkess H. Tarbassian
8 Capri Drive
Framingham, MA 01701-7759
Edgell Grove Cemetery banned the placement of flowers
on several deceased service members’ graves.
Below, Brad Chase (L), Collin Kelly (C), and Vartkess Tarbassian at Boston Children’s Hospital
Above, Collin Kelly salutes
our veterans and service
members upon receiving
his medal
25
The Graybeards September-October 2007