Bruchmühlbach-Miesau (dpa) – football legend Horst Eckel should now get a grave of honor in his home village of Vogelbach. This was decided by the municipal council of the Bruchmühlbach-Miesau municipality after a report by “Rheinpfalz”.
The 1954 football world champion died on December 3 last year at the age of 89, the last world champion of the 1954 team that achieved historic success with the “Miracle of Bern”.
Eckel’s daughter Dagmar had complained that her father should not be granted a grave of honor and said: “I find that very unpleasant, especially since we would take care of the grave. It’s just about dad getting this honor, because he has yes, done a lot for Vogelbach, for all of Germany.”
After the topic became public, the municipal council dealt with it at short notice. All factions advocated an honorary grave. Mayor Rüdiger Franz (SPD) was commissioned to clarify details with the family. Previously, it had been said that this had not happened due to the local community’s budget deficit and the existing strict budgetary requirements of the municipal supervisory authority.
A grave of honor is given by a municipality as an award for the merits of a deceased and as a memorial. The care of the grave can then be paid for with public funds, but there are different regulations for this. The rest period can be extended beyond the usual time. Eckel was born in the 1,300-inhabitant village of Vogelbach and last lived there with his wife Hannelore.