SALINAS, Calif. - A local soldier killed in action is on his way home. Losing your son is tough enough, his family is worrying about how to pay for his funeral.
Vilmar Galarza joined the military to help his family financially. He paid the ultimate price and now his family is struggling to pay the bill. Terrorists attacked and killed Galarza in Afghanistan last weekend. Now, the community is stepping up to help.
"It's hard enough getting the news my brother passed away in Afghanistan, now we have to deal with this," says Rubi Galarza, Vilmar's sister.
An emotional and stressful week for Vilmar Galarza's family. First, the army told them Vilmar was killed in action and the army would take care of all his funeral expenses. Now the family's getting a different story.
"I was really angry and mad, it's not fair he died serving his country," says Rubi Galarza. "He only gets $6,000 for his funeral and burial. That' not fair and that's not enough. My family doesn't have the money for that."
Vilmar will be buried here at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas. The cost of a headstone, a plot and a Sunday service is $6,000 alone.
Now, the family is scrambling to pay for viewing services and his burial. A former commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Santa Cruz County said, it's significantly cheaper to bury someone in a veterans cemetery.
That's what the family wanted, but the closest one is two hours away in San Joaquin Valley.
"It's incredibly heartbreaking. It's hard for it not to be heartbreaking, especially because these are good hard working people. They don't have a lot of means," says Nick Pasculli.
Pasculli from the Diocese of Monterey and local rotary clubs started a trust fund to help. So far, they raised $3,000. The Galarza family is thankful for everyone's support, but wishes it wouldn't be needed for someone who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Any soldier deserves it, fighting for this country," says Rubi Galarza. "They deserve the best too."
If you'd like to help, a trust fund is set up at Pacific Valley Bank at 422 Main Street in Salinas. The account number is 0221004898.
Submitted by Azenith Smith, Your Central Coast News
