A veteran died in a nursing home, alone — hundreds came to say goodbye
By Patrick Whittle and John Seewer, The Associated Press
Thursday, Jun 20, 2024
Hundreds of people attended U.S. Marine Corps veteran Gerry Brooks' funeral after he died alone and a funeral home asked for volunteers to serve as pallbearers. (Patrick Whittle/AP)
Marine Corps veteran Gerry Brooks died alone at a nursing home in Maine, abandoned and all but forgotten. Then the funeral home posted a notice asking if anyone would serve as a pallbearer or simply attend his burial.
Within minutes, it was turning away volunteers to carry his casket.
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By Leo Shane III
A bagpiper came forward to play at the service. A pilot offered to perform a flyover. Military groups across the state pledged a proper sendoff.
Hundreds of people who knew nothing about the 86-year-old beyond his name showed up on a sweltering afternoon and gave Brooks a final salute with full military honors Thursday at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/06/20/a-veteran-died-in-a-nursing-home-alone-hundreds-came-to-say-goodbye/
