The Region : Honorary Marine to Get Military Burial

Making a rare exception to federal law, President Reagan authorized the military burial of 15-year-old John Zimmerman of Fountain Valley, granting the boy’s last wish. The youth died Jan. 18, three days after being made an “honorary Marine” in bedside ceremonies in his room at Fountain Valley Community Hospital. The President was moved by a newspaper account of John’s devotion to the Marines and desire to be buried at the Military Cemetery of the Pacific near Honolulu, said Robin Gray, White House assistant press secretary. The youth had suffered from muscular dystrophy. The ceremony in which he was made an honorary Marine was “the highlight of his life,” said his father, Richard Zimmerman. The Zimmermans, whose son’s body was cremated, will be contacted later this week by the Veterans Administration to arrange the funeral.