Tennessee residents step up for funeral of Navy veteran with no family

[Jersey mike]

A portion of the article is below, in it there’s 4 quick videos from the service.

Huge credit to the folks of this community and the people of Tennessee. No person should go “unclaimed”.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace.

“AMERICA: Hundreds of Strangers Show up for Funeral of Navy Veteran in Tennessee With No Known Living Relatives”

A Navy veteran in Tennessee named Lonnie D. Wayman recently passed away with no known living relatives to claim his body. When his funeral happened today, it was attended by hundreds of strangers.

Community members and fellow veterans gathered Tuesday morning at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery to lay Lonnie D. Wayman, a U.S. Navy veteran with no known family, to rest with full military honors, FOX 17 Nashville reported.

In a country that promises to honor those who serve, the turnout made clear that “unclaimed” does not mean forgotten.

Wayman had been listed as an “unclaimed” veteran, officials said, after no relatives came forward to claim his remains. Organizers invited members of the public and veterans groups to attend the 9 a.m. burial at the Nashville cemetery so he would not be laid to rest alone.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/america-hundreds-strangers-show-up-funeral-navy-veteran/

[Oss]

great story  one of the reasons PGR are so important

The mitzvah of accompanying the dead (Levayah) is a fundamental, active duty in Jewish law (gemilus chasadim) to escort the deceased to their final resting place, often considered so significant it supersedes Torah study. It is an act of love and respect designed to honor the deceased and support their soul during the transition.

as always dont just talk the talk  also walk the walk

[Willow]

It's an emotional and publicly supporting act but is meaningless to the departed.  The deceased person is not aware of nor does he care what is done with the case the he once occupied.  Funerals and burials are not for the dead but for those left behind.  One who has no one left behind is a unique case for our traditions.

I'm pleased they decided to do this as a message to the community but it had no meaning to the deceased.  Serve them while they live but unfortunately we as a community at large are not aware of them before they're gone.

[Jersey mike]

It's an emotional and publicly supporting act but is meaningless to the departed.  The deceased person is not aware of nor does he care what is done with the case the he once occupied.  Funerals and burials are not for the dead but for those left behind.  One who has no one left behind is a unique case for our traditions.

I'm pleased they decided to do this as a message to the community but it had no meaning to the deceased.  Serve them while they live but unfortunately we as a community at large are not aware of them before they're gone.

I believe it’s a beautiful gesture not only to the deceased but our military as well. We may not be able to help those who fall through the cracks but the message sent by this simple gesture is loud and clear.

[Willow]

I believe it’s a beautiful gesture not only to the deceased but our military as well. We may not be able to help those who fall through the cracks but the message sent by this simple gesture is loud and clear.

I agree with half of what you say.  It does make us (largely universal) feel better that we've (representing universal) done something.  The dead don't care.  The living in need are still in need.

[carolinarider09]

I believe it’s a beautiful gesture not only to the deceased but our military as well. We may not be able to help those who fall through the cracks but the message sent by this simple gesture is loud and clear.

I agree with our comments above.

A comment from the link below (Billy Graham):

However, the Bible certainly does indicate that when we die we enter immediately into God’s presence if we belong to Christ. From our earthly point of view, death looks somewhat like sleep—but not from God’s point of view. Paul declared, “We are confident (of eternal life), I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:. Elsewhere he wrote, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23).

https://billygraham.org/answers/what-happens-to-our-souls-immediately-after-we-die-do-we-enter-heaven-right-away-or-is-there-a-waiting-period

[Jersey mike]

I believe it’s a beautiful gesture not only to the deceased but our military as well. We may not be able to help those who fall through the cracks but the message sent by this simple gesture is loud and clear.

I agree with half of what you say.  It does make us (largely universal) feel better that we've (representing universal) done something.  The dead don't care.  The living in need are still in need.

None of these people knew the deceased Navy veteran, how were they in need. Maybe the folks who attended were former military paying tribute to a fallen serviceman. Wow, and I thought I was a cynic.

Maybe it’s just a signal of common decency to pay respects to a person who had nobody.

We as a nation may not be able to attend to the needs of every single service veteran that either doesn’t want help or falls through the cracks in the system but we can damn sure show some appreciation for them whe n their time on earth is finally over and whatever pain they suffered is done.

Do these people pray for the decedent for themselves, no. The people pray for forgiveness of his sins and to be cared for and accepted in God’s Kingdom.

[Hook#3287]

I feel that a lot of it was because the deceased was a Veteran.

Some people want to show their support for our present administration and to the selfless contributions service people make.

If it makes them feel good or any other Veteran feel wanted, accepted or appreciated, even better.

I salute the Veteran and the strangers that spent their time.

[Willow]

I believe it’s a beautiful gesture not only to the deceased but our military as well. We may not be able to help those who fall through the cracks but the message sent by this simple gesture is loud and clear.

I agree with half of what you say.  It does make us (largely universal) feel better that we've (representing universal) done something.  The dead don't care.  The living in need are still in need.

None of these people knew the deceased Navy veteran, how were they in need. Maybe the folks who attended were former military paying tribute to a fallen serviceman. Wow, and I thought I was a cynic.

Maybe it’s just a signal of common decency to pay respects to a person who had nobody.

We as a nation may not be able to attend to the needs of every single service veteran that either doesn’t want help or falls through the cracks in the system but we can damn sure show some appreciation for them whe n their time on earth is finally over and whatever pain they suffered is done.

Do these people pray for the decedent for themselves, no. The people pray for forgiveness of his sins and to be cared for and accepted in God’s Kingdom.

"None of these people knew the deceased Navy veteran, how were they in need."

I'm guessing you meant to use a question mark.  The reference to the living in need still being in need was not referring to the attendees but to veterans who have not yet died.  If you want to do something for veterans who are alone do it while they are alive.  Attending their funeral does nothing for them.  Funerals are for the sake of those left behind.

I am not a cynic but I am not stupid either.    

[Oss]

"The dead don't care.  "

Actually there is no way to know that from this side of life
and I, and I suspect, most of us will only know or not know in time of death itself.

Acts of love and respect however, we can know

Whether the folks who came did so to make themselves feel better or out of
a sense of community or whatever, in my mind, they done good

YMMV

[Willow]

"The dead don't care.  "

Actually there is no way to know that from this side of life 

From writings that, I believe, you and I both hold in high regard:

For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their memory is forgotten.  Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

My point was that what we do in regard for the dead does nothing for them but serves perhaps us or other living.  If one wants to do something for persons in need, do it while they live.

[Oss]

The jewish belief as I was taught both as a child and thru Chabad courses in
Gematria, Talmud and Maimonedes is that the SOUL continues to suffer until it is reunited with the Lord

This is a reason why Jews who have died, go into the ground as soon as possible only more than 24 hours if Sabbath intervenes.

Our bodies are just dust but what makes us who we are?

Is it our souls or just some animalistic animation of the body?

That is a great quote by the way by Ecclesiastes

We remember our parents/lord forbid our children and siblings in Mourners Kaddish and on anniversary of death. Yes their body is gone forever

But accompanying the soul/body to the dirt and burying them is a duty in my religion, whether you feel good or not
especially if you do not

Again YMMV and each of us has the right to our belief and how we wish our vessel to be treated

and I totally believe in your last words "do it while they live"   Very well said Carl

[3fan4life]

It's a common belief that once people die they have no knowledge of this world.

Maybe that's true, maybe it's not.

Luke 19: 19-25 certainly suggests that people in Heaven and Hell can see each other:

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

I've not heard of Randy Alcorn but a Google search found his take on this subject:

https://vimeo.com/337377047?fl=pl&fe=cm

(The caption that pops up with the video is misleading, the video isn't about pets in Heaven as it suggests.)



I don't know the answer and won't until I die, but I like his statement at the very end of the video.

I also like the idea that the poor homeless vet who wasn't honored in life may have been able to see complete strangers honoring him in death.



My granddaughter is 11, there are milestones to come in her life that I hope to see:

Graduating from High School, Graduating from College, Getting married and Having children.

Based solely on family history the odds a greatly against me living long enough to witness these things.

It's comforting to think that if I don't, God may allow me to witness them from Heaven.

[da prez]

  I (we) took care of my wife ,Bonnie, in the last months of her life. We did all possible to make her comfortable.  Many events , possibly another story.
  She would lapse in and out of a coma like sleep. She once awoke and as nothing was wrong , asked me if I knew Jonny Unitas.  I know who he was I responded. Well she said ,I just talked to him. Bonnie's dad played football. Unitas was his role model. There are many other stories involved with her care.  
  Alive ,you pass many ,many people you do not see.

                                               da prez
 Bonnie died September 27 2023   Carl spoke of her at a ride of fallen brothers (sisters)