News • Opinons • Politics

2,000 attend Funeral of Florida Veteran Who Died Alone

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.


Midwest pro-Trump state could hold key to Republicans’ midterm hopes
Trump puts fraudsters on notice with $25M whistleblower program offering cash for tips that deliver
Marine Le Pen vows to be the one to end ‘decades of anarchic immigration’ as France is torn apart by riots
Rogers argues El-Sayed is vulnerable with 2 traditionally Democratic blocs as Obama heads to Michigan
UNC settles Trump admin probes into alleged campus antisemitism, race-based admissions
Rogers warns Michigan voters against El-Sayed’s ‘extreme’ agenda ahead of election
Watch: Trump Calls Slotkin ‘Lowlife’ for Plan to Terrorize, Deter Future Conservatives With the Threat of Legal Punishment
Watch: Dem Sen So Radically Ignorant on Iran That CNN Has to Educate Him – So Bad, CNN Even Takes Trump’s Side
Rediscovered DHS Docs Suggest Ilhan Omar May Have Never Been US Citizen in First Place
JD Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu despite Trump’s strong backing
Judge walks back ‘untenable’ order against Trump DOJ after tense DC golf course hearing
Breaking: Feds Have DNA Evidence That Ilhan Omar Committed Voter Fraud, Married Her Brother – Source
‘Changes the balance of leverage’: Zelensky tries to hold on as Trump pressures him to concede
Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to hear deportation case
LISTEN: Kansas soccer field dispatch call captures mass-casualty response after driver kills boy, man
See also  When purity politics runs its course: Even the most strident DSA politicians must learn to compromise

They came from around the state and beyond to remember the Army veteran from Naples.

“Just look just look around. This is a sure show of true human kindness and compassion,” said Bob.
Edward Pearson served in the U.S Army from 1962 to 1964. He was honorably discharged.

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.


Midwest pro-Trump state could hold key to Republicans’ midterm hopes
Trump puts fraudsters on notice with $25M whistleblower program offering cash for tips that deliver
Marine Le Pen vows to be the one to end ‘decades of anarchic immigration’ as France is torn apart by riots
Rogers argues El-Sayed is vulnerable with 2 traditionally Democratic blocs as Obama heads to Michigan
UNC settles Trump admin probes into alleged campus antisemitism, race-based admissions
Rogers warns Michigan voters against El-Sayed’s ‘extreme’ agenda ahead of election
Watch: Trump Calls Slotkin ‘Lowlife’ for Plan to Terrorize, Deter Future Conservatives With the Threat of Legal Punishment
Watch: Dem Sen So Radically Ignorant on Iran That CNN Has to Educate Him – So Bad, CNN Even Takes Trump’s Side
Rediscovered DHS Docs Suggest Ilhan Omar May Have Never Been US Citizen in First Place
JD Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu despite Trump’s strong backing
Judge walks back ‘untenable’ order against Trump DOJ after tense DC golf course hearing
Breaking: Feds Have DNA Evidence That Ilhan Omar Committed Voter Fraud, Married Her Brother – Source
‘Changes the balance of leverage’: Zelensky tries to hold on as Trump pressures him to concede
Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to hear deportation case
LISTEN: Kansas soccer field dispatch call captures mass-casualty response after driver kills boy, man
See also  When purity politics runs its course: Even the most strident DSA politicians must learn to compromise

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.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter