Hundreds attend Illinois funeral for Air Force veteran with no known relatives
By The Associated Press
When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
ELGIN, Ill. — Hundreds of people attended a funeral service in suburban Chicago Wednesday for a former U.S. Air Force mechanic who became an “unclaimed veteran” when he died last month.
The service for John James Murphy, 71, was held at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin. Murphy died Dec. 18 at a nearby hospital after living in a rehabilitation center since 2017. The funeral home was unable to find any relatives.
“He is ours,” the Rev. Tim Perry said to applause at the start of the service.
There were no relatives at Vietnam veteran Stephen Jerald Spicer’s funeral, but his passing didn’t go unnoticed as a few dozen patriotic strangers showed up to honor his service.
By Lisa Maria Garza, The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel via the AP
Joy and Dan Symonds, the owners of the funeral home, invited the public to attend Murphy’s service. The Symonds obtained permission from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to conduct a service that included full military honors.
Murphy was a U.S. Air Force jet engine mechanic from 1966 to 1969. His awards for military service included the Vietnam Service Medal.
Those who attended Murphy’s service included veterans, active service members and civilians.
“I didn’t think so many people would be here,” U.S. Navy veteran Cliff Hall told the Daily Herald. “This is incredible.”
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Active duty military members who were in attendance carry the casket. (AP)
When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill., funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (AP)
A mourner salutes. When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Susan Deuchler takes a moment to honor John James Murphy. When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
Sonia Alfaro, a civilian from Streamwood, brought a bouquet of red roses.
“I wanted to come to support a veteran,” Alfaro said. “I wanted him to be accompanied by people who appreciated his service and what he did for his country.”
A procession with a police escort took Murphy’s remains to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, where he was buried with the sounds of a 21-gun salute.
Holiday helpers have been busy, as plenty of organizations and individuals have been working to make the days a bit brighter for troops and their families.
The project was scheduled to take 10 years and cost $16 billion. Nearly eight years later, only six of VA’s 170-plus medical sites are using the software.
The figures are the latest available from federal census data and suggest limited progress on the issue of suicide prevention by Veterans Affairs leaders.
