In May 2017 Richard Collins. The third was days away from graduating
Bowie State University and had just been commissioned into the U.
S Army when he was waiting at a campus bus stop after visiting Friend's.
A White University of Maryland student approached Collins and stabbed
him to death after ordering him to move out of the way his killer
had links to a white supremacist group.
And was sentenced to life in prison for what prosecutors said was
a racially motivated hate crime. For years, The Collins family has
been pushing Arlington National Cemetery to have their son buried
among the heroes. They're a request that has repeatedly been denied
as a Rick and Don Collins told me it's a battle they'll keep fighting
to honor their son.
We feel that our son was
I had the pinnacle of life and that he should receive all military
honors. He took an oath to defend this country against all and I'm
using the word all
Boren and both foreign and domestic terrorists. So we feel that our
son was murdered in act of terrorism. And so therefore he should
be placed at risk. Wallington Cemetery National Cemetery, Mr Collins
a question about the timing as I understand it. After your son's
death, you were consumed with the trial, making sure that his killer
was brought to justice.
After that, you set up a foundation to preserve his legacy. All of
that took time. Is that why now? Five years later you're coming back
to this issue of his burial. Yes, Jeff. This has been an ongoing
I guess you could say ordeal for
and I and all of our families statistic erred as I'm sure you can
imagine the shock.
Of something so horrific happening to your your own child, your only
son and to later find out to the course of trial and listening to
law enforcement. Explain to you how the individual that stole his
life was involved in, uh, actions or groups with ideology.
Based on domestic terror, and we find it quite striking that this
would happen. And what's been the response so far from the Defense
Department from the Department of Veterans Affairs from Arlington
National spent quite a bit of time and reaching out to the Veterans
Administration, as well as the the Army writing letters and actually
making contact with staff through phone calls.
To petition for assigned to receive for military honors, which is
something that wasn't offered at the time he was murdered.
Due to the technicality of the army's policies, So that's what we're
trying to have rectified now preparing to speak with you Both. I
reached out to Arlington National, and they gave us a statement that
says much of what you said Mr Collins. It reads this way. Arlington
National Cemetery offers its heartfelt condolences to the Collins
family. Their request for an exception to the burial policy at Arlington
National Cemetery underwent a thorough review.
Well, first Lieutenant Collins death was tragic, and his commitment
to serve in the Army is extremely admirable. The secretary of the
Army made the decision to deny the request. Exceptions to the policy
are rarely approved. Unfortunately, burial space at Arlington National
Cemetery is extremely limited and service members with no active
duty military service other than training do not qualify.
There is a finality to that statement the way that it reads what
next steps await. Do you think this was extraordinary circumstances
to be standing on the streets or the corner of a University of Maryland
College Park and to have your life taken from you? Because there
was extraordinary. We're asking for an extraordinary exception to
policy. Mr Collins. I'm told that the Department of Defense said
that Quantico now
National Cemetery would be available to you.
If you paid all of the expenses related to that, is that the case
and how did that make you feel? Kind of a gut punch? You know you're
telling me Yeah, I'll help you up. But at the same time you're gonna
punch me in the gut and tell me But you've got to pay all the expenses
of having our son's body exhumed and transported to be able to be
buried in a national cemetery because when our son raise his hand
and took that oath of commissioning as my wife
I stated earlier he took that oath.
And pledged an allegiance to this nation to defend it against all
enemies, both foreign and domestic. That's no small thing. And all
of those myself included who have served have taken that same oath,
as well as those who are previously of occupied the offices at the
Pentagon and the Department of our Army and defense, as well as those
who are currently serving. So that's no small thing, in our estimation,
that that in and of itself
Self deserves to be honored under these extraordinary circumstances.
Mr Collins, your son, Richard Collins. The third shared your name.
What was he like? There's so much focus on how he was ripped from
this world. What was he like when he was here? Son was he was the
type of person who was ambitious. Um, he was athletic. He loves sports.
He was a big lacrosse fan as well as playing soccer, and he also
just enjoyed life. He loved meeting people.
He loved engaging with people and, you know, find common grounds
and coming interests with other people. So I I guess I would define
him as being a people person who look for opportunities to stretch
himself and extend himself one of the things that he did after he
expressed to us that he wanted to join ROTC in college.
Um, He went on to go to airborne school and know when he first told
us. He wanted to go jump out of a plane. I was like, Are you sure
you want to do that sign? I mean, that's that's pretty dangerous
stuff. And he's like, Yeah, Dad, I can handle it. So, Yeah, okay.
And sure enough, he went through and successfully completed it and
he was really proud to be able to wear of the airborne emblem on
his uniform.
And Mrs Collins. What do you want, folks to know about your son?
Your only son.
My only son and and again is it's difficult for me to say this because
he love this country.
When he took that oath.
He was
On top of the world and one of the fondest memories I have of him
saying, Mom, I did it.
Um And don't worry. I'm on that trajectory to succeed.
And
The world is my oyster at this time.
I'm going to win.
Hmm.
Well, I appreciate you both sharing your story with us, and I wish
you all the best.
Thank you so very much for your time. Thank you, Jeff.