More than 2,000 people packed into Patriots Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery Tuesday afternoon. Each person came to say ‘goodbye’ and salute Edward Pearson.
The Army veteran died Aug. 31 at the age of 80.
The Naples resident had no immediate family, but the funeral director had a plan to give Pearson one last amazing honor: An open invitation to the public.
“I stayed awake all night long the first time I heard this on the news. I said, ‘That’s not right. That’s a shame.’ I made a vow to myself and said I will be there as a veteran myself. No comrade should ever be left behind. Never,” said a man named Bob who spoke during the service Tuesday. “It broke my heart. And that he was going to be laid to rest with nobody around. To me, that’s not right. No veteran man or woman should ever have to have that happen to them,” he said.
Karoline Leavitt Shreds New York Times’ ‘Pitiful’ Report About Trump’s Cabinet and Elon Musk
AOC ‘going on the offense’ to rally red-district voters against Trump: report
Freedom Caucus member Anna Paulina Luna joins AOC to push 10% credit card interest rate cap
LeBron James Gets in the Face of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in Heated Courtside Confrontation
AOC and Anna Paulina Luna Team Up for Bill That Aims to Make a Trump Campaign Promise Come True
Suspects accused of Iran-backed plot to kill journalist on American soil face trial
It’s a Special Month: Trump Has Big March Proclamation That the DEI Crowd Will Hate
Pentagon losing cutting edge on weapons innovation, needs ‘massive kick in the pants,’ say defense leaders
Newsom’s ties to CCP under microscope in new book exposing alleged corruption: ‘Fleeced American citizens’
DC to begin reconstructing Black Lives Matter Plaza
FBI Director Kash Patel Announces Shock Arrest of US Soldiers: ‘Empowering Adversaries Like China in Betrayal of Our Country’
Why Trump really went after top Democratic law firm Perkins Coie
Trump puts pin in plan to sign DC takeover executive order — for now
How ‘judge shopping’ is shaping the legal fights against President Trump’s agenda in federal court
Four times minor diplomatic spats had a major geopolitical impact
They came from around the state and beyond to remember the Army veteran from Naples.
The Naples resident didn’t have any friends or family to bury him. Legacy Options Funeral Home in Naples posted an obituary for Pearson.
The line, “This veteran has no immediate family. All are welcome to attend,” captured the attention of the nation.
“People on the highway were saluting, motorcycles were joining in as we made our way up from Naples to Sarasota. It was a little overwhelming,” said Funeral Home Director Michael Hoyt.
Karoline Leavitt Shreds New York Times’ ‘Pitiful’ Report About Trump’s Cabinet and Elon Musk
AOC ‘going on the offense’ to rally red-district voters against Trump: report
Freedom Caucus member Anna Paulina Luna joins AOC to push 10% credit card interest rate cap
LeBron James Gets in the Face of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in Heated Courtside Confrontation
AOC and Anna Paulina Luna Team Up for Bill That Aims to Make a Trump Campaign Promise Come True
Suspects accused of Iran-backed plot to kill journalist on American soil face trial
It’s a Special Month: Trump Has Big March Proclamation That the DEI Crowd Will Hate
Pentagon losing cutting edge on weapons innovation, needs ‘massive kick in the pants,’ say defense leaders
Newsom’s ties to CCP under microscope in new book exposing alleged corruption: ‘Fleeced American citizens’
DC to begin reconstructing Black Lives Matter Plaza
FBI Director Kash Patel Announces Shock Arrest of US Soldiers: ‘Empowering Adversaries Like China in Betrayal of Our Country’
Why Trump really went after top Democratic law firm Perkins Coie
Trump puts pin in plan to sign DC takeover executive order — for now
How ‘judge shopping’ is shaping the legal fights against President Trump’s agenda in federal court
Four times minor diplomatic spats had a major geopolitical impact
The service was temporarily delayed while traffic issues resolved. Hoyt described how they got to the cemetery.
“It was like the parting of the seas. The motorcycles went down the middle and everybody pulled to the side and we came through with the hearse and the urn,” said Hoyt.
One social media post brought together strangers who uplifted one another and gave a veteran the farewell he deserves.
“If Ed where here today and saw this for him today he would laugh, cry and salute.” He’s been our neighbor for the last several years. He was a wonderful man and he deserves everything that happened for him here today. Thank you,” said a woman.
Sarasota National Cemetery holds services for veterans without any family or friends on a weekly basis.
If you’d like to find out more information about how you can attend contact Sarasota National Cemetery at (941)-722-7200.
A small look at the crowd at Patriot Plaza. There’s easily more than a thousand people here. The service has been delayed. We are told traffic is backed up on Clark Road and the interstate @FOX13News #Sarasota pic.twitter.com/gyH1FLvPtt
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) October 1, 2019
Story cited here.
