Pallbearers for Jerry Wayne Pino
Jerry Wayne Pino was a petty officer third class during Vietnam but he died alone on Dec. 12th in Long Beach, Mississippi. No one claimed his earthly remains so funeral home worker Cathy Warden and her colleague Eva Boomer decided something should be done for him. Eva texted her son, Bryce who volunteered himself and some friends, according to Fox News;
“It was the right thing to do,” 17-year-old Bailey Griffin told me. “He served our country. He fought for our rights. For him to be buried with nobody there was just sad. I told myself I was going to do it and I did it.”
They buried Petty Officer Third Class Jerry Pino on a Tuesday. The sun was shining and there was a cool, gulf coast breeze meandering through the Biloxi National Cemetery. An honor guard stood at attention.
The boys were smartly dressed in khaki pants and Sunday shirts and neck ties. They solemnly took their places on either side of the flag-draped coffin and escorted a man they did not know to his final resting place.
Thanks to all of you who sent the link.
Category: We Remember
BZ to those young men AND their parents.
They’re raising some fine young’uns in Mississippi.
Good for these people! Don’t let the media get hold of this, all they can do is bash veterans, and honorable people, we rarely hear about young men doing these kind of things!!
That’s good stuff-bravo to those women from the funeral home and those young men.
Seems like it’s getting to be a regular thing down here and I wonder every now and then if it’s how I’m going to end up.
http://www.kristv.com/story/34178340/funeral-service-held-for-vietnam-veteran
Nope, you should stop your wondering right now.
Ending up as an unclaimed body should never happen to a member of the TAH family, provided the family knows of your passing.
Put my name down as the first one on the duty roster for taking care of business.
I don’t understand why the Navy didn’t step up. We have our Home Port Battalions cover Funerals for that area, from NOLA, all the way over to Pensacola. I was one of the Honor detail Chiefs rite before I retired and we did funerals just like this with sometimes NO one there just the Funeral Home people. I guess they didn’t think about putting out to the Big Military active and Retired Community around there it’s huge. They have the Retirement home there that could help. Now this was 2013, so the budget restraints may have been an issue,but I know the guy’s on the Funeral Teams would have done it on there own dime.
BZ on those young men for stepping in to help.
Seriously. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of CBC Gulfport not being notified about it. I would hate to think they dropped the ball on that.
But more to the point, good on those young men for stepping up. We need more like them.
Agreed, There are plenty of Bee’s at the Hive to take care of what is right.
I would hope that after seeing the article that this will not happen again.
Thank you gentlemen.
Well, bless those folks for steppin’ up!
“No one claimed his earthly remains”
One of the saddest phrases in the English language.
Treasure your family, biological or Christian. Mend fences, build bridges, ask and give forgiveness.
Thank you, boys, for stepping up.
Good job by these young men, and the women who asked them to do it.
We need more news of good deeds such as this rather than how big the Kardashians asses are becoming or who is doing who.
Kevin
Perhaps all hope for this generation isn’t lost…
seems like ever time I despair of any generation, something like this comes along and reminds me that no generation is unique – every one has its dud and studs. These kids definitely go in category number two. Well done, young men. I’d normally call folks your age kids – you’ve earned the title “men”.
This is good stuff all around, many thanks to these folks for their display of basic human decency….nice to be reminded most folks are indeed good people doing the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do.
Outstanding! God Bless these young men.
Damn, just got dusty in here.
Kudos to these young men and all who made it happen. Your good deed will follow you and set an example for others.
BZ. Rest in Peace, Brother.
The young men are, as the story relates, students at Long Beach High School. Four of them are football players. The school mascot is the Bearcat. School there restarted today. If you would like to send a note to the principal, his email address is larry.ramsey@lbsdk12.com and the email address of the athletic director is forrest.williams@lbsdk12.com I already sent a note to each and included the TAH address in the event they wish to read some of these fine comments. Way to go Bearcats!
By Gawd, when I read this——well, it sure made me feel good. What great people. Thank You.
Dang, it’s gotten a little dusty in here all of a sudden.
Rest in Peace Jerry Pino.
BZ all those who stood up and did the right thing.
The Long Beach High School’s athletic director and football coach, Mr. Forrest Williams, emailed me to say thanks and to say how proud they are there of their young men. I should say so.
There are several messages in this post and the related comments.
First, for one of our veterans, (of war or peacetime service), to be alone at death is pitiful. We are Brothers in Arms, Forever.
Secondly, It wasn’t “seasoned” adults who stepped up, but young adult, High School “Kids” who chose to do what others would not. (One of the comments has e mail addresses to their school if you care to drop some roses on them.)
Thirdly, I pray that this will wake at least a few people up to this, and not let it happen again.
Outstanding for her and her kid and kids friends to honor this mans service. All she had to do was contact the local PGR. I’ve done several funerals like this and acted as pallbearer for several Vets that had no family. No one showed for their funeral but PGR was there with flags and doing the Flag Ceremony.
Hat’s off to these people for stepping up like this.
If nobody gives a damn before someone dies, to do so after they’re dead is the highest form of hypocrisy. No matter how sweet the flowers piled on the casket, he can’t smell them now, can he?
Whoa. Bad week, PN? Do you know where exactly he lived, whether he had neighbors, was a recluse, or any one of a number of things that would contribute to his being alone? Nothing suggests he was shunned. Many Veterans prefer to live away from the world and keep to themselves.
Goosebumps reading this story.
THANK YOU MR. PINO and Rest In Peace.