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When staff sergeant James Beavers, a Vietnam veteran passed just before Thanksgiving day, a Ft. Wayne, Indiana funeral home was sadden to discover that he had no known family or friends to lay him to rest.
Refusing to allow a U.S. service member that fought to defend the liberties this country has offer be forgotten, D.O. McComb and Sons funeral home took it upon themselves to ensure this solider was given the full military honors a hero truly deserves.
Taking to social media the funeral home hoped they would be able to encourage members of the community to attend Beavers' service, however the public's response was far more than they could have ever imagined. According to local media outlet WANE-TV, thousands of patriots rallied behind the fallen solider and attended the beautiful ceremony to pay their respects to a man that gave his all for those he never knew.
One such individual in attendance, 38 year old David Alderman, a military veteran himself explained to WANE-TV that he had traveled 900 miles from his home in Moore, Oklahoma to be by Beavers side as he was laid to rest.
Like Alderman, veteran Ryan Masten of Battle Creek, Michigan also made the trek to Ft. Wayne and stated that
“I found it across Facebook, and I felt I needed to be here because it’s a brother in arms," adding that it
"Doesn’t matter what war or who it is — it’s family.”
Via
Blaze
While mail was coming in from faraway places like Hawaii and even Nigeria, the Indiana Patriot Guard got together and stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the chapel, keeping a solemn watch.
“Doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have any family members that are known. What matters is that we’re here today to show him that respect,” Senior Chaplain for the Indiana Patriot Guard Pat Brase told WANE. “We’re honored to be here. People take time out of their days to do this. There are still a lot of patriotic people in this country and we’re glad to stand … shoulder-to-shoulder with them today.”
What’s more, Brase told the station he believes Beavers’ story can help other veterans who may be struggling since their time in the service.
“I think it comes from … how the Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home,” Brase added. “There’s folks that are still trying to heal from their experience … And in some way I hope that this can be a healing experience for some of them today.”
Inside the funeral home the line stretched, down a hallway and through the main seating area, with veterans from far and wide approaching Beavers’ flag-draped casket and offering salutes.
