A Final Act of Service: Veteran's Funeral Draws Thousands After Call for Attendees

John Bernard Arnold III, a World War II Navy veteran who died on May 6 with no known family to arrange his funeral, received a well-attended service after Terrance O'Keefe of Hanover-Hanson Veteran Services appealed for attendees.

"We planned for the entire state to at least show up." — Terrance O'Keefe

A Life of Service and Joy

• Arnold grew up in foster care and served in the Navy during World War II.
• He was a magician who enjoyed making people laugh, never married, and had no children.
• He had pre-planned his funeral over a decade ago, requesting a Catholic Mass with no eulogy, stating he wanted people to know "he believed and he served."

The Community Responds

O'Keefe's call led to a large turnout: Erin O'Malley Mandeville reported arriving an hour early to find 100 people already present, and approximately 1,500 people attended overall.

The service included a military gun salute, bagpipes, and the presentation of the casket flag to the manager of the veterans home where Arnold spent his final years.

Arnold's great-nephew, Joe Durban, recognized the story, traveled to Massachusetts, and received Arnold's flag and visited his grave.

A Glimpse Into the Man

"The priest also offered the crowd a glimpse into who John Bernard Arnold III was as a man, including his love for classical music, chocolate cake and 'Grey's Anatomy.'" — Erin O'Malley Mandeville

Speaking about Arnold with his Navy hat beside him, O'Malley Mandeville said, "I just quietly said, ... 'I hope wherever you are, you can see this. Because it's beautiful.'"

She added that the detail about his personal tastes made her feel like she knew him.

A veteran who served his country, believed in his faith, and made people laugh—ultimately laid to rest by the very community he never knew he had.