Hundreds attend Illinois funeral for Air Force veteran with no known relatives

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.

RELATED

For some veterans, strangers are family at burial services

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.”

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 7

Active duty military members who were in attendance carry the casket. (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.

More In Veterans

Navy veteran McCain, groundbreaking Air Force general among Medal of Freedom recipients

The notable military figures were included among 17 individuals being granted the nation's highest civilian honor.

GI Bill fix would ease financial reporting rules for colleges

Some schools have reported significant problems in navigating recent changes to veterans education benefits.

Should WWII’s last Medal of Honor recipient get a state funeral?

Hershel “Woody” Williams, awarded the nation's highest combat honor in 1945, passed away Wednesday.

Army veteran held in Ukraine speaks to mom by phone

Relatives say Lois “Bunny” Drueke spoke to her son Alexander Drueke, one of two Alabama veterans captured earlier this month in Ukraine, via telephone.

Supreme Court upholds state government work protections for reservists

The Supreme Court allowed a former state trooper to sue Texas over his claim that he was forced out of his job when he returned from Army service in Iraq.

In Other News

North Korea slams US-South Korea-Japan military cooperation

Sunday’s statement comes as North Korea’s neighbors say the country is ready for its first nuclear test in five years

Distrust remains after Navy report on tainted Hawaii water

About 6,000 Navy, Army and Air Force families were affected by the toxic spill. Their trust in the military remains low.

Chris Pratt picks military veterans for ‘The Terminal List’

The team hired real special ops members to appear in a major combat scene and also employed former troops behind-the-scenes in a variety of roles.

None of the US Air Force’s linguists spoke Ukrainian. Then Russia invaded.

Air Force linguists scrambled to keep up through the Afghanistan withdrawal and, now, the war in Ukraine.

Army will no longer rotate tank units to Korea — but the tanks are staying

The move comes after a sudden jump in overseas duty for the service's armored units after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Load More