Heart-wrenching scenes see six teens flank Vietnam War veteran's coffin as they volunteer as pallbearers at his funeral because he didn't have any family

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4085898/Six-teenagers-Mississippi-volunteered-pallbearers-Vietnam-War-veteran-s-funeral-didn-t-family.html

While most high schoolers were enjoying their winter break, six teenagers from Mississippi spent a morning volunteering as pallbearers for a veteran they did not know. 

The young men from Long Beach, Mississippi laid to rest Jerry Wayne Pino who died at the age of 70.

Mr Pino served in the Navy during the Vietnam war and did not have any family. He passed away on December 12.

 

Six young men volunteered as pallbearers at a veteran's funeral because he did not have family members to carry his casket 

 

The young men from Long Beach High School immediately said yes when a friend contacted them to be pallbearers for Jerry Wayne Pino's funeral 

The veteran pre-arranged his funeral but because he did not have any family, there was no one to carry his casket.

The Sun Herald reports a veteran who worked at Riemann Family Funeral Homes contacted a young man who found the six pallbearers needed for the service. 

Bailey Griffin, Joseph Ebberman, JT Tripp, Jake Strong, Kenny McNutt and James Kneiss immediately said yes to being pallbearers. They laid Mr Pino to rest on Tuesday morning.

On Facebook, JT's mom wrote: 'Proud mom when [JT] told me that no one should be buried without people who care present, especially a veteran.

'Exposure to patriotism and respect comes from the home, schools and community. Proud of all these boys!'

 

Mr Pino pre-arranged his funeral service and passed away on December 12

 

Honor guards from the Navy folded a flag and gave it to the funeral home who presented it to the pallbearers. The teenagers hung it in their high school football locker room 

Not much is known about Mr Pino. His short obituary on the Sun Herald's website merely reads: 'Mr Pino, age 70, passed away Monday, December 12, 2016.'

Honor guards from the Navy were present to fold the American flag that was laid on the casket. The guards gave it to the director of the funeral home who presented it to the teenagers.

They decided to keep it in their high school locker room since four of them were on the football team. 

Other teenagers in the US have volunteered their time to bury unclaimed veterans as well. In November, Today reported that a group of high school students in Michigan also served as pallbearers to homeless veterans.