1,500 Mourners Honor 98-Year-Old WWII Veteran John Bernard Arnold III After Public Plea
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 20
1,500 Mourners Honor 98-Year-Old WWII Veteran John Bernard Arnold III After Public Plea
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 20
About 1,500 strangers, veterans and police turned out Monday in Hanson, Massachusetts, for the funeral of John Bernard Arnold III, a 98-year-old Navy veteran who died May 6 with no known living family.
Hanover-Hanson Veteran Services had asked the public on Facebook to attend so Arnold would not be buried alone, and the response packed church grounds hours early with flag-waving mourners.
A police motorcade then escorted Arnold’s flag-draped coffin to Cedar Knoll Cemetery in Taunton, where bagpipes played, veterans saluted and people lined the route with American flags.
Arnold, who served in the Navy during World War II and never married or had children, was remembered by caregivers as warm and funny — a man who loved classical music, chocolate cake and making people laugh.
The turnout, amplified by social media and shared military ties, turned a feared solitary burial into a public tribute that organizers said showed unusual community humanity.
Thousands honor veterans in death, but how are we failing to combat their loneliness in life?
If a Facebook plea is needed for a hero's funeral, what gaps exist in our official veteran support systems?