Nashville turns out to honor ‘unclaimed’ Navy veteran with full military rites

TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE: A community came together on Tuesday, March 10, to ensure a US Navy veteran, Lonnie D Wayman, was not buried alone.

Despite being officially labeled as "unclaimed," hundreds of people gathered at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery to provide him with a dignified final farewell.

Community gathers for unclaimed Navy veteran burial

Lonnie D Wayman served his country in the Navy, but when he passed away, no family members were found to claim his remains. 

To honor his service, organizers reached out to the public and veterans' organizations, asking them to attend his 9 am burial service in Nashville.

The response was overwhelming, as rows of veterans, military personnel, and local citizens filled the sanctuary and overflowed into the hallways, standing in quiet tribute.

Crowd honors Lonnie D Wayman at funeral

During the ceremony, a representative from the Veterans Affairs (VA) addressed the crowd to challenge the official status of the fallen Navy veteran.

He noted that while the documents on his desk labeled Wayman as an "unclaimed" veteran, the massive turnout proved otherwise.

He told the gathered crowd, "But I say that's incorrect. I say that's a misnomer, that thanks to the support from the United States military, the good folks at Gupton Mortuary, and all the support I see here today, we are able to claim our honorable veterans and provide them the dignity and honor that they have earned."  

Priest offers final prayers for Navy veteran

The service included prayers and traditional military honors to recognize Wayman's time in the Navy. A priest spoke to those in attendance about the journey home, stating, "My friends, our true home is in heaven. Christ Jesus gave us the road map."

As the service moved toward its conclusion, the priest offered a final blessing, praying, "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him." 

Dove release marks farewell to Navy veteran

The burial ended with a symbolic release of doves near the cemetery flagpoles as the veteran was finally laid to rest.

While the cemetery staff worked to prepare the site for visitors, the message of the day remained clear.

In the end, the VA representative returned to the point that had framed the morning and stated, "We are able to claim our honorable veterans and provide them the dignity and honor that they have earned."