Abandoned Marine died alone at Maine nursing home — then hundreds of strangers showed up to his funeral
An abandoned US veteran who died alone in a Maine nursing home was given a proper goodbye Thursday by hundreds of kind-hearted strangers.
Former Marine Gery Brooks’ burial at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta was marked by a 21-gun salute, a pilot who performed a flyover, a motorcycle escort and full honors thanks to the help of multiple military groups from across the state.
“It’s an honor for us to be able to do this,” Jim Roberts, commander of the VFW post in Belfast, told the Associated Press.
“There’s so much negativity in the world. This is something people can feel good about and rally around. It’s just absolutely wonderful.”
The heartwarming ceremony blossomed from a desperate notice posted by the funeral home asking if anyone would serve as a pallbearer or simply attend the burial of a forgotten Marine.
Within minutes, it was turning away volunteers to carry his casket, the AP reported.
So many groups volunteered to take part in paying tribute that there wasn’t enough space to fit them into the 20-minute burial service, said Katie Riposta, the funeral director who put out the call for help last week.
“It renews your faith in humanity,” she said.
Much of Brooks’ life is a mystery — he was widowed and lived in Augusta until early May, when he entered a nursing home. He died a week later on May 18.
The funeral home reached out to his family, but no one was willing to take responsibility for the body, Riposta said.
According to Roberts, Brooks’ son, granddaughter and son-in-law silently attended the funeral, but did not share why they hadn’t stepped forward earlier.
There were a handful of other familiar faces in the sea of strangers.
Victoria Abbott, executive director of the Bread of Life shelter in Augusta, said Brooks sat at the same table to eat every day at their soup kitchen — always equipped with a stream of jokes and a smile.
“Your quintessential 80-year-old, dad jokes every day,” Abbott said. “He was really great to have around. He was part of the soup kitchen family.”
An online tribute wall dedicated to Brooks was filled Thursday with touching messages from those who met the Marine too late.
Every single one thanked Brooks for his service and promised that he would not be forgotten in death.
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” one mourner wrote.
“You are home now and you will never be abandoned again.”
