Local veterans were shocked yesterday by a request made by one of their own.

Phillip Kelly, New Castle Area Honor Guard commander, speaking at the sentencing of a man who had vandalized veterans’ graves to support a drug habit, asked the judge to order Matthew Edward Russick to work alongside the veterans to place flags and grave markers next Memorial Day.

Lawrence County J. Craig Cox included the request in Russick’s sentence and assigned him to work with the detail, supervised by his court tipstaff Tom Lane, who is active with veterans groups.

Kelly, a Vietnam veteran who spoke on behalf of local veterans, said some of the older men had been taken off guard by his proposal in the courtroom.

’But on the way out, they said this is exactly what should happen,’ he noted. ’We’re satisfied.’

Russick, 24, whose last known address was 1144 Pin Oak Drive, is accused of taking more than 1,000 brass flag holders from area cemeteries last winter. He was sentenced yesterday to serve six to 23 1/2 months in the Lawrence County jail, with credit for 85 days already served, and to two years probation following his incarceration.

Cox said when paroled, Russick will be supervised by the county’s adult probation office. He also is ordered to pay costs of prosecution and supervision and to make restitution of $14,000 to the Lawrence County Veterans Affairs office.

As a condition of the sentence, Cox ordered Russick to work two weekends each May for as long as he is under supervision to assist local veterans who place flags and grave markers at local cemeteries prior to Memorial Day. Russick also was granted work release to continue his job with an area landscaper.

On June 19, Russick pleaded guilty to institutional vandalism.

Codefendant Jessica Lynn Gustaitis, 23, is awaiting trial, according to the district attorney’s office.

VICTIMS ARE HEARD

Eight local veterans council members, six in the uniform of the Lawrence County Honor Guard, attended the sentencing, with Kelly as spokesman.

’What you did was bad. It was wrong,’ he told Russick. ’You dishonored the veterans who served their country.

’I’m not mad at you, I’m happy,’ Kelly continued. ’You will work with us to reverse what you’ve done and the hurt you’ve caused us.’