KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. — Dozens of people honored three unclaimed veterans with a ceremony held on Memorial Day.
Military personnel and members of the public — many of whom were members of Patriot Guard Riders chapters and carrying American flags — attended the event held at the Donnel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in the community of Institute.
The remains of Army Sgt. Roosevelt Hatch, Retired Navy Fireman George Righter and Air Force Sgt. Eddie Elkins were interred, as a color guard from each respective military branch folded a flag for each man.
Hatch was a veteran of the Vietnam War and received a Commendation Medal with valor and a Purple Heart. Righter served during Operation Desert Storm, and Elkins was a veteran of the Korean War.
The veterans were not all from West Virginia but died in the state. According to cemetery administrator Darrell Cunningham, no family members could be contacted following their deaths.
“They may not be claimed by any next of kin, but they’re sure claimed by all of us,” Gov. Jim Justice said. “They maybe can’t be thanked today by next of kin, but they can be thanked and praised by us. They’re West Virginia family.”
Cunningham additionally reached out to funeral homes across the state about any other unclaimed veterans to be buried at the cemetery.
Michael Whitlatch and Greg Hicks with the West Virginia chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, and Ed Hicks with the Kentucky Patriot Guard Riders carried the remains of the soldiers at the start of Monday’s ceremony.
“It’s my way of paying the debt to our fathers and forefathers for what they’ve done for us,” said Ed Hicks, who retired from the Air Force after serving in the Vietnam War. “I feel in my heart for veterans that have no families. I don’t want them to be unclaimed.”
Whitlatch, a retired Army sergeant who served in Operation Desert Storm, said unclaimed soldiers should not be forgotten.
“These guys served our country with honor, and the least we can do is honor them on this day and give them a proper funeral and lay them to rest,” he said. “They’re among brothers and sisters now. That’s an awesome thing.”
Whitlatch, Greg Hicks and Ed Hicks received the folded flags honoring the veterans.