Philip Anthony "Tony" Smith, a veteran who recently passed away, will be laid to rest at the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Leesville, Louisiana, on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. Smith, a former Private First Class (PFC) in the U.S. Army, will receive a dignified farewell, despite the absence of family or close friends.
A call for attendance has been issued by the local veteran community and organizations, urging people to attend the funeral to ensure that Smith is not alone on his final journey. The service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the cemetery located at 3348 University Parkway.
Social media has seen an outpouring of support from various members of the community. "Rest easy, brother," commented Richard Ferrero. Jason Barrett, reflecting on his time at Fort Polk, said, "There was a group specifically for this (Deceased Veterans with no one to attend their funeral). Unfortunately, the person I knew who organized it died a few years ago, but that is a huge veteran community. I hope you can find attendees. RIP Tony."
Many have expressed their intent to honor Smith. Conrad Vidrine stated, "Will be there," showing solidarity with the fallen soldier. Keith Morrow highlighted the efforts of local organizations: "The VFW and others have been passing this message out, several of the locals have supported these."
Despite the lack of immediate family, the community has rallied to ensure that Philip Anthony Smith receives the respect and recognition he deserves for his service. His passing is a poignant reminder of the importance of supporting veterans who may not have loved ones to mourn them.
Godspeed, Philip Anthony Smith. Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.