Military Burial for 15-Year-Old

Making a rare exception to federal law, President Reagan authorized the military burial of 15-year-old John Zimmerman of Fountain Valley, granting the boy’s last wish, a spokesman for Sen. Pete Wilson’s office announced today.

John, who suffered from muscular dystrophy since birth and died Jan.18 , had been befriended by Marines. His dying wish was that he be buried at the Military Cemetery of the Pacific near Honolulu. Veterans Administration officials said they could recall only one other instance of a presidential order to waive regulations that limit burial in national cemeteries to military personnel, their spouses or children.