5-year-old boy honors veterans with holiday grave markers

Ken Koons/Staff Photo Kayden Sevison, 5, makes glittered pine cones as part of a graveside decoration for veterans.

SYKESVILLE — Five-year-old Kayden Sevison plopped a pine cone in a plastic bag filled with red, white and blue glitter.

The kindergartener then grabbed the top of the bag with two hands and shook it, giving the cone a colorful coating. He then took the pine cone out, waved the excess glitter off and placed it on the table next to several others.

Kayden was soon off to the next one.

This wasn’t a regular arts & crafts project for Kayden. He and several friends and family gathered in his aunt’s basement earlier this week, working in assembly-line fashion to make holiday graveside decorations or thank-you tokens.

Two red, white and blue pine cones will be married with green garland, red bows and three-inch stars all attached to a straightened coat hanger that can be pushed into the ground.

Kayden wanted to show his appreciation for fallen soldiers and war veterans, some of whom comprise his own family, including two uncles, a great uncle and a great-great grandfather.

One of Kayden’s uncles is currently doing a second tour in Iraq.

With help from friends and family, Kayden will place the markers on about 200 grave sites at Baltimore National Cemetery in Catonsville on Dec. 14.

Chris Sevison, Kayden’s dad, said his son got the idea from watching a PBS documentary on Arlington National Cemetery, a month ago.

“It started out to be what he wanted to do,” Chris said. “It was all his idea.”

Chris said the family will place the markers in section E of the cemetery. That’s where Kayden’s great-grandfather, a World War II veteran, is buried. He’ll get the first one.

Kayden said he is honored to place a marker on his great-grandfather’s grave.

“It makes me proud,” Kayden said.

Chris said Kayden has always been a patriotic child. Last year, Kayden had to decorate a heart for a Valentine’s Day project and instead of coloring the heart red or pink, he colored it in American colors.

And every time he sees an American flag, Kayden salutes it.

“He’s been singing the Star-Spangled Banner since he was 3,” Chris said.

Chris said he and Kayden hope to expand the project to local and national schoolchildren next year. So far, he’s received e-mails from people in Virginia and Connecticut asking about the project.

Although Kayden said he doesn’t know if he wants to join the military, he said it’s important for him to honor those in the military.

“I really want to honor the soldiers and I want to help them because they’re fighting for our country and trying not to let the bad guys over here,” he said.

Reach staff writer Jennifer Jiggetts at 410-857-7873 or jennifer.jiggetts@carrollcountytimes.com.