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.
DHS says ICE agents rammed by vehicles amid Minneapolis enforcement surge: ‘Aggressively assaulted’
Ilhan Omar vows ‘not to give ICE a single cent’ in heated congressional funding fight
ALERT: Dem Rep Publicly Supports Assault on Christian Worship Service by Leftist Agitators
One Incredibly Simple Map Explains Why Greenland Is 100 Percent Vital to US Security
Tariffs, Greenland, and a ‘nasty’ binder clip: Five takeaways from Trump’s marathon first-anniversary press briefing
California GOP asks Supreme Court to block House map ahead of midterm elections
Gavin Newsom Freaks Out After Arriving at Davos and Hearing What World Leaders Are Saying About Trump
Trump says ‘you’ll see’ when asked how far he’ll go on Greenland takeover
Minnesota Gov Walz invites Trump to visit state to ‘see our values in action’ after ICE feud
Manhunt Underway After Judge and Wife Are Shot Through Their Front Door
Illegal immigrant accused in DUI crash that killed college soccer player, girlfriend: report
Minnesota police chiefs allege some ICE agents racially profiled US citizens, including off-duty officers
Supreme Court keeps nation waiting on Trump tariff decision, releases 3 lower-profile opinions
Lawmaker says Trump could keep housing-cost pledge by backing Democratic bill in rare call for common ground
To Combat ICE, Reckless Dem. Rep. Spreads Plan That Will Destroy 911 System, Cut Off Citizens from Police, Fire, Medical Help
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.
DHS says ICE agents rammed by vehicles amid Minneapolis enforcement surge: ‘Aggressively assaulted’
Ilhan Omar vows ‘not to give ICE a single cent’ in heated congressional funding fight
ALERT: Dem Rep Publicly Supports Assault on Christian Worship Service by Leftist Agitators
One Incredibly Simple Map Explains Why Greenland Is 100 Percent Vital to US Security
Tariffs, Greenland, and a ‘nasty’ binder clip: Five takeaways from Trump’s marathon first-anniversary press briefing
California GOP asks Supreme Court to block House map ahead of midterm elections
Gavin Newsom Freaks Out After Arriving at Davos and Hearing What World Leaders Are Saying About Trump
Trump says ‘you’ll see’ when asked how far he’ll go on Greenland takeover
Minnesota Gov Walz invites Trump to visit state to ‘see our values in action’ after ICE feud
Manhunt Underway After Judge and Wife Are Shot Through Their Front Door
Illegal immigrant accused in DUI crash that killed college soccer player, girlfriend: report
Minnesota police chiefs allege some ICE agents racially profiled US citizens, including off-duty officers
Supreme Court keeps nation waiting on Trump tariff decision, releases 3 lower-profile opinions
Lawmaker says Trump could keep housing-cost pledge by backing Democratic bill in rare call for common ground
To Combat ICE, Reckless Dem. Rep. Spreads Plan That Will Destroy 911 System, Cut Off Citizens from Police, Fire, Medical Help
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.
