Family of WWI veteran looks forward to 110th birthday

[Gerald]

Washington (CNN) - The family of Frank Buckles, the nation's lone living veteran of World War I, hopes he makes it to his 110th birthday about a month from now, despite troubling signs he is on the decline.Buckles, who was born February 1, 1901, is thought to be the world's oldest living war veteran. Buckles has slowed down considerably in just the past two months, according to his daughter Susannah Buckles Flanagan, who lives with him at the family home near Charles Town, in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. A family friend who visited two weeks ago says he is awake just a few hours a day.

"It has long been my father's wish to be buried in Arlington, in the same cemetery that holds his beloved General (John. J.) Pershing (commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI)," Flanagan wrote, appealing for help from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia. "I feel confident that the right thing will come to pass."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/12/29/wwi.veteran/index.html?hpt=C2


Note: December 30, 2010 Updated 0256 GMT

[Factor]

110. Wow! I hope i make it to 55.:dead:

[Gerald]

110. Wow! I hope i make it to 55.:dead: It is clear that you do, spend time wisely, it will go well, :up:

[Platapus]

Personally, I hope I never make it to 110. That's just too old for me.

But good for him. I hope he lives to 120! :yeah:

[Gerald]

Personally, I hope I never make it to 110. That's just too old for me.

But good for him. I hope he lives to 120! :yeah::DL

[Tessa]

Unless the laws have changed, any veteran that is either killed in combat or dies has the priviledge to be buried at Arlington. When my Grandfather died many years ago he did have the option of being interred at Arlington (he was also Patton's personal driver in the field, doesn't hurt to be connected) or at the funeral ceremony there would be an honor guard assigned to the burial. Since he wan't an O-9/O-10 he wasn't eligible for a 21 gun salute, but at still got a 7 gun salute. As we opted for a burial closer to home so we could visit there was indeed an honor guard, and I was given the honor of receiving the tri-folded US flag that was drapped over his casket during the ceremony.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Unless the laws have changed, any veteran that is either killed in combat or dies has the priviledge to be buried at Arlington. When my Grandfather died many years ago he did have the option of being interred at Arlington (he was also Patton's personal driver in the field, doesn't hurt to be connected) or at the funeral ceremony there would be an honor guard assigned to the burial. Since he wan't an O-9/O-10 he wasn't eligible for a 21 gun salute, but at still got a 7 gun salute. As we opted for a burial closer to home so we could visit there was indeed an honor guard, and I was given the honor of receiving the tri-folded US flag that was drapped over his casket during the ceremony.

Huh? My dad is only an O-8 and has remarked on numerous occasions he qualifies for a 21 gun salute.

[Tessa]

Huh? My dad is only an O-8 and has remarked on numerous occasions he qualifies for a 21 gun salute.

Your dad's a 2 star general, my Grandfather was a corporal. While he was always around the other Generals he didn't get the MOH (which I believe gets you a 21 gun salute regardless of rank), so your rank determines how many guns are fired.

[Platapus]

Unless the laws have changed, any veteran that is either killed in combat or dies has the priviledge to be buried at Arlington.


Close, but not entirely accurate. That type of veteran would be entitled to be buried in a National Cemetery, of which Arlington is only one of them (and getting rather crowded). I believe that currently there are 146 National Cemeteries in the US.

With the recent scandal about record keeping, I don't think I would feel comfortable with a relative buried at Arlington. :nope:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Your dad's a 2 star general, my Grandfather was a corporal. While he was always around the other Generals he didn't get the MOH (which I believe gets you a 21 gun salute regardless of rank), so your rank determines how many guns are fired.

Ah, I just noticed you said "O-9 or O-10"

(And he's a RADM)