Marine honor guards Gunnery Sergeant Connor Williams and Lance Corporal Jovani Sanchez render honors over the casket of Marine Sgt. Daniel Pendleton who was remembered at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery on Thursday, July 23. Lugoff’s Larry Jeffers American Legion Post 195 was there to help honor Pendleton.
Lugoff American Legion Post 195 assisted Chapin Post 193 in laying to rest an unclaimed Vietnam War veteran to rest on July 23 at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.
Marine Corps Sgt. Daniel F. Pendleton served from 1971 to 1975 during the Vietnam War era, was unclaimed after his death. He was 72. A funeral home reportedly contacted the National Cemetery two days prior to the ceremony to arrange delivery of his remains for the cemetery staff to bury him.
The cemetery contacted Post 193 in Chapin, which has taken on the task of handling unclaimed military remains across South Carolina. Post 193’s Unclaimed Veteran Burial Program-Manager Steven G. Goulet sent out word to the Midlands veteran community on July 21. This led to 42 veterans and others to attend the committal ceremony at the cemetery that took place at 1 p.m. July 23.
Lugoff Post 195’s Larry Bennett renders honors over the casket of Marine Sgt. Daniel Pendleton at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery. Bennett was one of 42 veterans and others who attended the ceremony to honor Pendleton, whose remains were unclaimed after his passing.
Post 195 had no fewer than five members attend the service to honor a brother in arms. Also in attendance were members of the American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, United States Submarine Veterans, Special Forces Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Post 193’s Chaplain Richard Mullinax performed a short service at the cemetery’s Committal Shelter No. 1. Also involved in the ceremony were bagpiper Glen Adams of the Palmetto Pipes & Drums along with bugler and Air Force veteran Linda McDonald of Bugles Across America. Retired Marine Captain David Fickle bore the Marine flag, and Blue Star Mother Jamie LaRusch placed a single flower on Pendleton’s casket to close out the ceremony.
The various veterans’ organizations throughout the state and nationwide are committed to ensuring that no veteran will be buried alone. It is these efforts to ensure all veterans are remembered that saw the turnout that day.
This information and photographs were provided by American Legion Post 195. The text has been edited for publication.
