Many honor last WWI veteran

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Wearing a black POW-MIA beret and a vest emblazoned with “Vietnam Veteran,” Charles D. White stood and saluted the flag-draped coffin holding the body of Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I.

Buckles will be buried Tuesday with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Visitations were Sunday and today at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Chapel in Washington, and starting Tuesday morning, Buckles’ body will lie in repose at the cemetery’s memorial amphitheater.

Buckles enlisted in the Army at 16 after lying about his age. He died last month at his home in Charles Town, W.Va., at age 110.

Buckles’ daughter, Susannah Flanagan, had wanted her father to lie in repose in the U.S. Capitol, but Congress failed to approve that plan as politicians clashed over how best to honor Buckles and the 4.7 million other Americans who served in WWI.

A family spokesman said the family is satisfied with the honors at Arlington.