Casey Sheehan has his monument. Finally.

What about the story behind the story?

Well, here is what I know, from a reporter close to the events. Cindy Sheehan paid for the monument, which she described as "very expensive". There was a small ceremony on Memorial Day (also Casey's birthday) which she attended. It was a private affair -- no media. Apparently, she was embarrassed that the grave was unmarked for two years, and so wanted no one around. Earlier in the day, there was another ceremony attended by local dignitaries and veterans.

Cindy Sheehan did not attend the public ceremony.

To get a better sense of what happened, I got in touch with the family, and here are more details. The details cast a shadow on this moment of closure.

People wonder why it is that now Cindy Sheehan, who controls the money, is putting up a monument. According to my source, Patrick Sheehan forced her to approve of the monument as part of the divorce agreement.

Shocking. I would never have expected that.

The selection of the headstone itself and the verse engraved on it was the result of the effort of Patrick Sheehan and the children, Andy, Carly, and Jane, Patrick did the verse. Cindy Sheehan apparently had no say. It is not clear if she offered no input, or if she was was rejected. I suspect the former. Cindy Sheehan saw and approved the final design before it was completed.

As for the ceremonies: There was a small ceremony on Casey's birthday, May 29, which was attended by immediate family and some local friends. Afterward the group went to a local restaurant. Cindy Sheehan arrived late and left early, made no statement or comment and did not go to the restaurant afterward. Apparently she had a flight to catch. Some political event, I would guess -- but that's only speculation.

There will be another family ceremony, including Casey's paternal grandparents, and sans Cindy Sheehan, at a later date.

So even the conclusion of the saga of Casey headstone, an opportunity for reconciliation and for healing, seems to have been sullied by Cindy Sheehan's intrasigence. Fortunately, the rest of the family seems to have moved on, leaving Cindy Sheehan to plot her own path. It's too bad, because whatever else he might be thinking, Casey certainly could not have wanted this for his mom.

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