No family would be at a WWII veteran's Valentine's Day funeral. So, hundreds of strangers showed up
Ashley May
A WWII veteran who had no surviving relatives to attend his Valentine's Day funeral was honored by hundreds of strangers on Thursday.
Three days before James McCue's funeral, Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco Urena tweeted that the 97-year-old had "no surviving family" and asked if community members could be present for the service. Others, including the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts, spread the message and people began changing their Valentine's Day plans.
McCue, who served with the U.S. Army during WWII, died at a healthcare center on Feb. 7. His wife is no longer living, according to his obituary.
McCue was a "highly decorated" veteran who served in five major WWII battles, Urena said.
The Lawrence Police Department shared photos from the funeral, showing a large crowd of people, including other veterans, at the gravesite. McCue was buried with full military honors. Many people also wrote on his online tribute wall.
One commenter, Jim Sereigo-Wareing, said he knew McCue as child, and was sorry he missed the service.
"Jim was the nicest guy one could know," he wrote.
Other comments read: "Be assured you are not forgotten"; "although I did not know you, I consider all veterans to be my family members"; and, "thank you for all you did!"
McCue was laid to rest in the Veterans Section of Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
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