Sergeant David R Loften is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the United States Army from February 1969 through February 1989.
He passed away in his Kansas home last month and had no known immediate family to claim him.
That is when the local Veterans Cemetary asked that the public show up to his funeral to show support for the veteran.
On Wednesday hundreds showed up for the funeral.
People from as far as Chicago showed up to his visitation and service to claim the “unclaimed veteran.”
“He is ours,” the Rev. Tim Perry said at the beginning of the service held at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin, eliciting a chorus of “amen” and applause the Daily Herald reports.
Both veterans and active service members showed up to the service, as well as civilians who adorned his gravesite with flowers.
Rest in Peace, Sergeant Loften.