HARWOOD, N.D. (AP) - Veterans who weren’t given military funeral rights when they were buried during the coronavirus pandemic have been given a final salute at the Fargo National Cemetery.
United Patriotic Bodies and Fargo Honor Guard volunteers were at the cemetery Saturday when three rifle volleys were fired and taps were played individually for 14 different families of veterans.
United Patriotic Bodies Cmdr. Jason Hicks says the salute is an honor and a duty to those who sacrificed for their country.
Gary Varberg came to the cemetery to honor his brother, Roger Nelson. They served in Iraq together and decades in the National Guard, KVLY-TV reported.
“Closure, maybe a little bit,” Varberg says. “Mainly to salute his military history and his duty.”
Nelson was just one of the many veterans who wasn’t given military rights and honors when he was buried at the Fargo National Cemetery during the global pandemic.
“This means we get to say our final goodbye to our brothers and sisters,” Fargo Honor Guard Chaplain Russel Stabler said.
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