This World War II Veteran Now Has His Flag

MADISON, CT — A veteran has his flag.

Madison neighbor Suzanne Muller posted on Patch wondering if anyone knew how to have an American flag placed on her father-in-law’s headstone. Harry G. Muller was a veteran of the Second World War.

His headstone simply reads, Müller.

By the time this editor noticed her question from mid-week, it was Friday. Emailing back and forth, she gave me the cemetery location, the grave number and the name. She was very grateful, and humbled.

It’s tricky to track down the right folks on a Friday. Before a holiday. During a pandemic. But I began with Fred Brisbois from the Guilford American Legion. I’d recently written a story about the generous and selfless veterans there who were donating a part of the stimulus checks to others in need. Yes, an incredible story of generosity.

I digress.

Fred could not help directly, but he did give the name of someone who could: Joel Miller, who is the chairman of the Madison and Guilford Joint Veterans Advisory Committee. I left a phone message, made a few other inquires and then got back to my regular job. But by mid-afternoon, I had not heard back from folks so began again making calls, sending emails, and typing messages to folks on Facebook.

By 5 p.m., now worried, I went to the top and messaged First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, and being impatient, then contacted the awesome Madison Police Sgt. Martina Jakober.

I am shameless. But I was working every angle.

Ms. Lyons emailed back and asked for Suzanne’s contact information. Sgt. Jakober was going to make some calls and offered, if need be, to go do it herself.

Mr. Muller more than deserved a flag, at the very least.

"My father-in-law was a medic who served in the 11th Armored Division of Patton’s third army in The Battle of the Bulge and was involved in the liberation of Malthausen Concentration Camp in Austria," Suzanne said.

Müller helped to liberate a concentration camp.

And if all else failed, I’d make the half hour drive to West Cemetery in Madison myself ...if not for the return phone call from Miller. He listened to me ramble, and then said he would go to the cemetery himself and place a flag at Muller’s grave.

I cried.

When he texted me a photo a very short time later, he called directly after.

“It’s a good thing you called, Ellyn. There’s nothing on the headstone that says he’s a veteran and all the others, they have flags. He would not have had one. Now, he does.”

We both fell silent. Later, when I thanked him profusely via text, he said: "It was an honor. We can't always do everything we want for our fellow veterans, but every gesture is meaningful. Thanks for contacting me."

After I sent the little story to Suzanne she wrote back: "You and all involved with this truly restores one’s faith in humanity especially during this unprecedented time! Please pass on our gratitude and thank you, thank you! And thank you to Madison Patch, a true home town news source!"

And that’s the story of how we honored one veteran.