COLORADO SPRING, Colo. — A bugle playing taps echoed across the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs on Thursday morning.
This funeral was different. Duane Lawrence, a Vietnam era veteran, was laid to rest.
Lawrence was a Marine with no known family or friends. The director of the cemetery asked the Colorado Guard Riders to stand for him. And, they did.
“It’s a tragic and sad event that he had no family,” Jim Balcerovich said. He’s the ride captain for the Colorado Patriot Riders. “Today, the community is his family.”
Dozens of riders joined Balcerovich and hundreds of other strangers came to honor the 77-year old.
“We had about one hundred riders respond to our invitation,” Balcerovich said. “You can see all the cars and people lined up. There’s a bunch more.”
Use the video link above to see more.
