19 Years After Death, World War II Veteran and Wife Laid to Rest in New Hampshire
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A poignant service was performed at Keene's Mountain View Cemetery to honor Andrew Charles Schricker and Marion McDowell Schricker's ashes. This solemn event follows the deaths of Andrew Schricker in 2004 and Marion in 2000 after almost two decades. The couple was buried in the McDowell family grave beside Marion's parents.
Torrington, Connecticut native and Vietnam War vet Steve Anderson uncovered and reburied the Schrickers' remains. Anderson's trip started in September 2020, when the ashes of Sherry Collins, who died in 2013, were discovered while remodeling her former home. One of the renovators found two wooden boxes in the attic with the Schrickers' names.
The renovators approached Torrington City Hall for guidance. Anderson was called in due to his engagement in genealogical programs and his prior work with the remains of World War II warriors. Even though the veteran's body had lain untreated for over a decade, Anderson felt obligated to care for it.
It took around two and a half years to dig out Schricker's military documents and plan a proper burial. Anderson used findagrave.com to locate Marion's family grave at Mountain View Cemetery. Anderson used Andrew Schricker's New Hampshire Union Leader obituary to confirm that Schricker served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He was also a member of the Army Air Force.
Anderson had initially planned for the Patriot Guard to form a select flag line for the burial. But for this, Anderson needed further proof of Schricker's military service, which proved difficult. Anderson could not see his service records because the National Personnel Records Center did not authorize him. Anderson obtained the files in May thanks to the Missing in America Project.
Anderson went to the Keene Parks and Recreation Department in June with all the necessary documentation to request permission to bury the two boxes in the cemetery. Anderson rode his motorbike from Torrington to Keene with an ash urn strapped to his back. N.H. Patriot Guard Riders attended the event on June 23 to show their respect for the veteran and his wife.
The couple was buried next to Marion's parents during the tearful service. Anderson was overjoyed to learn that Andrew Schricker was a veteran; he thought it was the cherry on top. Bringing the ashes home and putting them to rest beside their parents and parents-in-law was a truly satisfying moment.
Andrew Charles Schricker and Marion McDowell Schricker's funeral and burial symbolize the eternal debt of appreciation and respect given to the heroic servicemen and women of World War II. The detailed work of Steve Anderson and the cooperation of many groups have resulted in the couple's burial at the appropriate site, guaranteeing that their sacrifice and legacy will be remembered for future generations.
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