SERGEANT'S SON GETS FIRST SCOOP - OFFICIAL LAUNCH NEWS FROM WHITEHOUSE CEMETERY

A few dozen people gathered at the grave site of  Sgt. Gary "Andy" Eckert, from Whitehouse cemetery in Ohio,  to support the official launch of The Patriot Soil Project.  May 8, 2014  was the 9th year anniversary of Andy's death, who was killed while serving in Iraq.  The ceremony was highlighted when Tiffany, Marlee and Myles Eckert each collected a small amount of "Patriot Soil" from Andy's gravesite and placed it into a vessel held by Mary Middleton Robinson.

Lt. Col. Frank Daily, who was the recipient of the $20 Myles found in the restaurant parking lot, also participated in the ceremony, while friends and members of the press gathered in support of the project.  The ceremony concluded with Scott Fish, lead singer of the band The Distant Cousinz, performing a song he wrote called Marlee's Freedom, in honor of the ultimate sacrifice made by Myles and Marlee's father.

Toledo Blade Article:

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/05/09/Sergeant-s-son-gets-first-scoop-to-help-grow-memorial-project.html

Left to right Marlee Eckert, 10, Tiffany Eckert, Myles Eckert, 9, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey during a ceremony for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Left to right Marlee Eckert, 10, Tiffany Eckert, Myles Eckert, 9, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey during a ceremony for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Left to right Kentuckyana Jones, from A&E television, and Tiffany Eckert comfort Marlee Eckert, 10.

Left to right Kentuckyana Jones, from A&E television, and Tiffany Eckert comfort Marlee Eckert, 10.

Shovels used by the Eckerts during a ceremony for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Shovels used by the Eckerts during a ceremony for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Myles Eckert, 9, shovels dirt from his father Sgt. Andy Eckert's grave into a vessel held by Mary Robinson of the Patriot Soil Project as Lt. Col. Frank Dailey, in back, looks on.

Myles Eckert, 9, shovels dirt from his father Sgt. Andy Eckert's grave into a vessel held by Mary Robinson of the Patriot Soil Project as Lt. Col. Frank Dailey, in back, looks on.

Scott Fish, lead singer of the band The Distant Cousinz, performs a song he wrote called "Marlee's Freedom" for Sgt. Andy Eckert's daughter Marlee.

Scott Fish, lead singer of the band The Distant Cousinz, performs a song he wrote called "Marlee's Freedom" for Sgt. Andy Eckert's daughter Marlee.

Left to right SFO Stesha Slates, Gary Robinson of The Patriot Soil Project, Sgt. Jeremy Langham, Marlee Eckert, 10, Tiffany Eckert, Myles Eckert, 9, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey during a moment of silence for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Left to right SFO Stesha Slates, Gary Robinson of The Patriot Soil Project, Sgt. Jeremy Langham, Marlee Eckert, 10, Tiffany Eckert, Myles Eckert, 9, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey during a moment of silence for Sgt. Andy Eckert.

Myles Eckert, 9, leans on his father Andy Eckert's tombstone.

Myles Eckert, 9, leans on his father Andy Eckert's tombstone.

Myles Eckert, 9, replaces a cross on his father Andy Eckert's tombstone.

Myles Eckert, 9, replaces a cross on his father Andy Eckert's tombstone.

Left to right SFO Stesha Slates, Gary Robinson of The Patriot Soil Project, and Sgt. Jeremy Langham.

Left to right SFO Stesha Slates, Gary Robinson of The Patriot Soil Project, and Sgt. Jeremy Langham.

Kentuckyana Jones, from A&E television, presents American flags to Marlee Eckert, 10, Myles Eckert, 9, and Tiffany Eckert, as Sgt. Jeremy Langham, left, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey, right, look on.

Kentuckyana Jones, from A&E television, presents American flags to Marlee Eckert, 10, Myles Eckert, 9, and Tiffany Eckert, as Sgt. Jeremy Langham, left, and Lt. Col. Frank Dailey, right, look on.