Hundreds of veterans and community supporters attended the funeral of a 97-year-old World War II veteran after learning he had no surviving family members to attend.
James McCue, who died on Feb. 7 at a health care center in Massachusetts, was an Army veteran who served during World War II. According to his obituary, McCue was predeceased by his wife and has no other living relatives.
The obituary, which quickly went viral on social media, encouraged community members to attend the Valentines Day funeral.
Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco Urena took to Twitter to encourage community leaders to attend. Several posts circulated on social media, gather more and more attention for the veteran’s funeral.
McCue was a “highly decorated” veteran who served in five major WWII battles, Urena said.
“James McCue, 97, the proud U.S. Army WWII Veteran we will honor tomorrow 2/14/2019; Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence,” Urena wrote on Twitter. “The highly decorated Veteran served in 5 major WWII Battles; D-Day Invasion, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. We’re grateful for his service.”
McCue was laid to rest in the veterans section of the Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence, Mass.
The Lawrence Police Department and local veteran organizations help organize the mass attendance, bringing in more than two hundred supporters, most of whom were veterans.
McCue’s long-time friend, Doris Sevigny, 91, who had lived next door to the veteran for more than 20 years, attended the services. The flag from on top of the casket was presented to Sevigny in memory of McCue.
“Wonderful, wonderful,” she cried while clutching a picture of McCue, according to wbur.org.
McCue received a full military funeral with a 21 gun salute and a rendition of “Taps,” which was played by Army bugler and Vietnam veteran John Doherty.
