WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A special request this holiday season from one military brother to another.
Westmoreland County native and retired Army soldier Eric Sansonetti is serving as a civilian right now in Kuwait wants to surprise the family of the one of his fallen brothers, a fellow-soldier from Indiana County.
Sansonetti and Donald Smith graduated the same year and went to the same places, but never knew each other until they were deployed together.
Smith died in 2016 at Fort Bliss in Texas. Despite being on the other side of the world, Sansonetti is trying to help Smith's family this holiday season.
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"I've gotten messages from hundred of people that are like. 'Hey, you know I'll be there. I'll do it thank you for your service,'" Sansonetti said.
It's a simple ask, Sansonetti says; flood Smith's grave with kindness and holiday cheer.
"There's a lot of unfortunate and nasty things happening in the states and to see this just blossom, Just the emotions flooding me is outstanding. I can't wait to tell his family. They're just going to be blown away," he said.
Smith's grave can be found at the Oakland Cemetery in Indiana, Pa. The headstone is pictured above and is closest to the road in its row.
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