A US Marine veteran, who had entered a Maine nursing home just days before his death, was laid to rest with full military honors at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Despite not having any family willing to attend, hundreds of strangers showed up to pay their respects.
Riposta Funeral Home had initially posted a notice asking for volunteers to serve as pallbearers or attend the burial, and the response was overwhelming. The funeral home had to turn away pallbearer volunteers within minutes of posting the notice.
The burial was attended by Patriot Guard Riders, who escorted the hearse on motorcycles for 40 miles from the funeral home in Belfast. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization performed a 21-gun salute, and volunteers held American flags and a crane lifted a giant flag at the cemetery entrance.
Although little was known about the veteran’s life, the impact of the service was profound. Brooks’ son, granddaughter, and son-in-law attended the funeral, but did not speak. The VFW is called upon when a deceased veteran has no family or their family is unwilling to make funeral arrangements.
“It renews your faith in humanity,” said Katie Riposta, the funeral director. “It doesn’t matter if he served one day or made the military his career. He still deserves to be respected and not alone.”
