(TheProudRepublic.com) – In a stirring display of patriotism, the remains of nearly 30 Civil War veterans have been finally buried and received the honor they deserve after languishing in storage for decades.
The Missing in America Project, an organization dedicated to ensuring unclaimed veterans receive proper burials, spearheaded this noble effort.
Through meticulous research, they confirmed the military status of these long-forgotten heroes and orchestrated a series of ceremonies befitting their sacrifice.
The majority of these patriots were laid to rest at Washington’s Tahoma National Cemetery. Civil War re-enactors, dressed in authentic Union uniforms, stood at attention as musket volleys lifted up to the sky.
The haunting strains of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” accompanied the solemn calling out of each veteran’s name and unit, which reminded of the cost of freedom.
The key figure in the discovery of these remains, Tom Keating, expressed his astonishment, “It’s amazing that they were still there and we found them. It was something, just the finality of it all.”
“When you have somebody who served in a war but especially this war, we want to honor them,” stated Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien.
While most of the veterans found their final resting place in Washington state, others were returned to family locations in Maine and Rhode Island. One Navy veteran will be honored with a burial at sea, a fitting tribute to his service.
Bruce Frail, coordinator for the Missing In America Project, remarked, “It’s the best thing we can do for a veteran. The feeling that you get when you honor somebody in that way, it’s indescribable.”
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