Boustany and Louisiana Colleagues Tell Army: Bury Florich at Arlington

Press Release

Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (R-South Louisiana), called Deputy Secretary of the Army Deb Wada and U.S. Army Military Law & Policy Advisor/Legislative Counsel Greg Bowman with Senators David Vitter (R-Louisiana) and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), and Congressmen Ralph Abraham, MD (R-Alto), and Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge) to request that the Army allow Louisiana National Guard (LANG) Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Florich was killed in a helicopter accident off of the Florida coast earlier this year.

Over the weekend, despite pleas from Florich's father, Stephen Florich, the Army decided that the fallen servicemen could not be buried at Arlington National Cemetery because he was not active duty military at the time of his death.

Because Florich was supporting active duty Marines when the training accident occurred, and because of the tremendous public outpouring of support for Florich in Louisiana and across the country, Boustany asked the Army to make an exception to existing policy and allow Florich to be buried at Arlington.

Boustany said: "Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich gave his life for his country in a tragic training accident. His grieving family has requested that Staff Sgt. Florich be buried with his brothers in arms at Arlington National Cemetery, and I believe he fully deserves that honor. My colleagues and I requested the Army reconsider their earlier decision, and we will continue to explore all options to ensure Staff Sgt. Florich is laid to rest at Arlington."

Boustany led the House of Representatives in a moment of silence honoring Florich and the rest of the fallen soldiers on March 17 after the names of each of the soldiers were officially announced.

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