SYRACUSE, Utah – After almost a year after being laid to rest, a Utah veteran got the headstone he deserves Friday.
Last year, FOX 13 brought you the story of Heidi Chambers, who was fighting for her father to have a gravestone.
Tech Sergeant Milford (Verl) Van Weerd worked at Hill Air Force Base after going on multiple tours of duty.
He died suddenly in May of 2019 at the age of 61 due to complications from gastric bypass surgery.
After trying to work with the VA, Chambers had no luck getting her father a headstone — even though, because of being honorably discharged, Van Weerd was entitled to one.
So she went out on her own to raise the money through donations online.
After running a story on FOX 13, she raised enough money to fund the headstone almost overnight.
Her problems weren’t over there — the city itself had issues with the time of year and was fighting against putting the headstone in during the winter.
Finally, almost a year after being laid to rest, Friday her father got the headstone he deserves.
“I waited so long and put so much time and energy into this that I am so happy to see it finally pay off,” Chambers said. "If anyone deserves this, my dad does… He always fought for me and I am glad that I could do that for him.”
She expressed her gratitude to everyone who donated.
"I can’t even begin to thank them enough for everything that they have done," she said.
Now finally after all this time, she is overjoyed the journey is finally over.
