U.S. Army veteran Richard Rhodes passed away alone in his Winona, Minnesota, apartment just before Christmas at the age of 73. Rhodes, who served in Vietnam, led an isolated life and never drew up a will, reported Military Times. Although no relatives or friends could be located, when a local funeral home heard that the man was a former soldier, they wanted to make sure he received a proper burial.
Brittany Horton, director of the funeral home charged with interring Rhodes, arranged a standard service and got in touch with various veterans organizations. According to the Winona Daily News, Horton's efforts were not in vain. Over 100 people, including a full guard of honor, came to the cemetery to pay their respects to the man almost none of them knew. The source reported that one of Rhodes' old co-workers came to the service. Though he was shocked to learn of his friend's passing, he was touched by the overwhelming display of respect for the man who often kept to himself.
"He was a great guy … just awesome," Tom Hundt, Rhodes' former colleague, told the Winona Daily News.
The source noted that three volleys were fired and taps played, as is the custom for military funerals. Since no family was in attendance, a folded American flag was presented to the funeral home.