‘Gone but not forgotten’: Unclaimed Berkeley Co. veterans buried with military honors
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Two Berkeley County veterans whose remains went unclaimed were honored and laid to their final resting place Friday with military honors.
The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office called these men unclaimed because although they fought for our country, at the time of their deaths, they had no family there to grieve for them.
Dozens of veterans attended the service at the Beaufort National Cemetery to pay their respects to the veterans’ lives that were lost.
“It’s heartwarming to know that veterans who are unclaimed will be claimed by their brothers and sisters in their final day of rest,” veteran David Bradbury said.
The two men laid to rest were Benjamin Harrison Hyder III, who served in the United States Air Force; and Lewis Melvin Coy III, who served in the United States Navy.
Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell said both men died in Berkeley County earlier this year and despite an extensive search, his office was not able to find any family or next of kin.
“We don’t know these veterans, but what we do know is that they made a decision in their life that they were going to support, lift and protect us here in America,” Hartwell said.
Through the investigation, his office determined the men were part of the United States military before cremating the bodies and organizing a ceremony.
A procession from the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office to the cemetery escorted the bodies for an almost-two-hour drive with bikers, veterans and Berkeley County deputies following behind. The Beaufort Sheriff’s Office took over the procession once the procession reached the Beaufort County line.
“We had a full police escort, and it was just a show of true honor and respect, especially the vehicles stopping along the side of the highway,” Bradbury said. “It gives me goosebumps.”
The service included the playing of “Taps,” words from service members, the singing of “Amazing Grace,” and a presentation of forget-me-not flowers to the men with veterans saluting their urns.
“It’s more than just a salute, you are saluting the person; you are saluting the uniform, regardless of what uniform they wear,” veteran John Coy said. “It’s very special to get that salute.”
Veterans at the service highlighted that the men did not die alone but are remembered by their brothers and sisters in arms.
“I am conscious that many of us gathered here today may not have known these men personally, but their service to our nation already tells us everything that we need to know about them,” United States Navy Chaplain Ian Clark said. “We already know that they were selfless. We already know that they cared about others. We already know that they believed in something greater than their own self.”
Hartwell says they will hold this ceremony every year in which there are unclaimed veterans’ deaths in Berkeley County. Last year, a similar ceremony was held honoring the life of one unclaimed veteran.
“We just feel that it’s our obligation to make sure that we do everything that we can possibly do to make sure that they have a respected burial here for the decision and the sacrifices that they made,” Hartwell said.
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