The Real Reason John Wayne's Grave Was Unmarked For 20 Years

Following his death, the Duke's family held a private, family-and-friends-only funeral for the actor, with security personnel keeping the eyes of the public away, as Outsider reports. The family initially did not mark his grave. Wayne's son, Ethan, would tell theLos Angeles Times that disclosing the location publicly would be disrespectful to the families of

Following his death, the Duke's family held a private, family-and-friends-only funeral for the actor, with security personnel keeping the eyes of the public away, as Outsider reports. The family initially did not mark his grave. Wayne's son, Ethan, would tell the Los Angeles Times that disclosing the location publicly would be disrespectful to the families of others buried there. "You want him to rest in peace. We didn't want to make a shrine. It's more out of respect for the people that are out there. They don't want their loved ones' graves trampled on."

There may have been more to it than just a desire to protect the integrity of other graves in the cemetery, however. According to Purple Clover, his family feared that a marked grave could attract vandalism from left-wing protesters. Wayne's grave would remain unmarked for the next 20 years, but in 1998, according to The Vintage News, his family identified his grave with a simple bronze marker.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qL7Up56eZpOkunCEl3BnbmlfqbWmedGemKVlopqutLvNZqGooJ5ixKLFzZ6qZp%2BilsOmedaaqmatnqKus7fEnWSfp6Jif3F52J6Yq6tf

 Share!