Cemetery Removes Spongebob Monuments from Army Sergeant’s Grave

Army Sgt. Kimberly Walker was killed back in February after returning home from two tours in Iraq. Walker was an extreme Spongebob Squarepants fan. According to her family, everything from her apartment decoration to her birthday party themes were all centered around Spongebob.

To celebrate their loved ones life, the family came up with plans to place two Spongebob statues at her grave site. The statues would be 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide and weigh 7,000 pounds a piece. The plans were approved by an official at the cemetery, so the family went on to spend $26,000 on having these statues made and placed. Less than a day later, the cemetery told the family that the statues would have to be removed because "The monument does not fit within Spring Grove Cemetery guidelines, was not approved by senior management and cannot remain here." Apparently, the representative that originally approved the families plans, didn't have the authority to do so.

Now the statues are being removed and the family is devastated. Do you think the statues should be allowed to be removed from the cemetery?

Here's what we think...

Chandelle:

I understand that the family is just trying to celebrate the life of a loved one by displaying something that she loved at her memorial, but the size of the statues seems a little excessive. The cemetery should have never approved something like this in the first place if there was ever a chance of needing to have them removed, but clearly it was a mistake on one person's behalf, which unfortunately happens. I think the family has every right to be upset over the statues being removed, but it sounds like the cemetery is just following the procedures they are told to follow.

Kat:

While I respect the family's right to mourn the loss of their loved one, I think the statues are far too large - 6 feet tall & 4 feet wide. I also feel like such an outrageous display is disrespectful to the other families with loved ones buried there. This cemetery has been turned from a final resting place into a a sideshow. I feel like in an attempt to honor the deceased, they have instead turned her grave site into a mockery. It may not be the popular opinion, but I feel like the cemetery is right to make the family remove the statues.

Rob:

I understand the controversy here. I certainly see both sides. On one hand you have these very large. somewhat ridiculous statues of a cartoon character where many people are gathering to remember their respective loved ones. The family knew what they were doing was questionable in nature, so they asked the cemetery for approval... And they got it. With that approval in mind, they spent $26,000 to make these humongous statues memorializing Kim. I think it's in very poor taste and rather insensitive to tell them there was an error in judgment on their side and to force them to move the statues.