SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – The remains of 17 Upstate veterans are now on their way to their final resting place in Columbia.
Each deceased veteran did not have family to claim them and have been in the care and custody of the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office.
Thursday morning, a moment of reflection and appreciation was shared as the 17 veterans were honored.
“These veterans gave what they were asked to do and they deserve to be remembered with dignity and honor,” said Walt Richardson, with the South Carolina American Legion.
The procession that followed the ceremony took each veteran to Fort Jackson National Cemetery, where they will be honored in a grand ceremony before being laid to rest alongside their brothers and sisters in arms.
“These veterans haven’t had the benefit of a final service, so it was my wish … and Spartanburg is a special town where they acknowledge service to the community and I knew it would be a great number that would show up, I just didn’t anticipate this many people coming,” said Rusty Clevenger, Spartanburg County Coroner. “So it has been great to see.”