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.
BREAKING: Heartbreak in Nancy Guthrie Case as Note Believed to Be from Kidnappers Confirms She Is Dead
Prominent businessman learns fate in boat crash case that killed teen, maimed another
US official says JD Vance made ‘great progress’ in Iran talks, calls snub reports ‘foreign propaganda’
Ilhan Omar’s New Financial Disclosure Takes Americans for Fools – Claims Spouse Made as Little as $200 in 2025
Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns amid FBI probe
Job-Seekers Learn New Hack That Makes Landing Jobs Easier, But It Also Humiliates Every College, University in US
Chicago priest tells Trump to ‘shut up’ and restore gun violence prevention funding after deadly weekend
Trump-backed housing overhaul targeting Wall Street investors clears Senate
Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Ro Khanna After Congressman’s Outrageous Lie
DOJ investigating NYC coffee shop over hostile social post about pro-Israel politician
South Carolina fitness trainer’s autopsy raises more questions about mysterious death
Chaos erupts on American Airlines flight as unruly passenger allegedly bites fellow traveler midair
Olympian charged in Reflecting Pool vandalism tied to Dem fundraising giant
Obama-era inspection flaws in Iran could persist as experts warn of nuclear blind spots
Survey Report Shows 10x as Many Strong GOP Voters Are Sure of God Than Strong Dem Voters
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.
BREAKING: Heartbreak in Nancy Guthrie Case as Note Believed to Be from Kidnappers Confirms She Is Dead
Prominent businessman learns fate in boat crash case that killed teen, maimed another
US official says JD Vance made ‘great progress’ in Iran talks, calls snub reports ‘foreign propaganda’
Ilhan Omar’s New Financial Disclosure Takes Americans for Fools – Claims Spouse Made as Little as $200 in 2025
Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns amid FBI probe
Job-Seekers Learn New Hack That Makes Landing Jobs Easier, But It Also Humiliates Every College, University in US
Chicago priest tells Trump to ‘shut up’ and restore gun violence prevention funding after deadly weekend
Trump-backed housing overhaul targeting Wall Street investors clears Senate
Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Ro Khanna After Congressman’s Outrageous Lie
DOJ investigating NYC coffee shop over hostile social post about pro-Israel politician
South Carolina fitness trainer’s autopsy raises more questions about mysterious death
Chaos erupts on American Airlines flight as unruly passenger allegedly bites fellow traveler midair
Olympian charged in Reflecting Pool vandalism tied to Dem fundraising giant
Obama-era inspection flaws in Iran could persist as experts warn of nuclear blind spots
Survey Report Shows 10x as Many Strong GOP Voters Are Sure of God Than Strong Dem Voters
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.
