MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa —More than 100 people including at least 80 other veterans honored an 81-year-old veteran at his funeral Monday.
The funeral for Charles Lanam was held Monday afternoon at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Lanam, a Korean War veteran, had never married, had children, and outlived all of his relatives.
Word about Lanam’s funeral and no living family spread fast on Facebook.
“No veteran should go to the grave by himself,” said Jeff Hauser. “When I got here we pulled in and saw literally hundreds of cars. My heart just went, ‘Wow.” I mean look at this.”
Veterans from the VFW and American Legion organizing a proper burial with full military honors.
“Someone needs to be there for you especially a veteran, someone who gives us our freedom,” said Jill Deike.
Members of the local Patriot Guard formed a barricade guiding volunteer pallbearers carrying the flag-draped casket. Vince Frederick…
