WWII sailor finally laid to rest in Railton, Kentucky
RAILTON, Ky. – It’s been 82 years since Pearl Harbor, but the government is still reuniting families decades later with new technology.
Mike Edwards over the weekend was one of the newest Americans of those helped out by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, who were able to identify his uncle, 1st class Seaman Elmer Patterson Lawrence, who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Edwards was joined by several family members to support the Vietnam veteran, who had a piece of his family restored on Saturday, July 22, 2023. Edward spoke to News 40 after the funeral ceremony, flag presentation and final salute.
Edwards said that his mother didn’t tell him much about his uncle, saying when she would begin to reference him, she would say, “Michael Dale! I just can’t talk about him…” It’s an understandable thing, considering her older brother being declared “missing in action” at the young age of 25.
He said even though she has now passed, if she were still here, “you wouldn’t be able to slap the grin off her face, she’d be so happy… he was her hero.”
News 40 also talked to other supporters who showed up for Edwards and his family, like the Rolling Thunder and the Kentucky Patriot Guard, who do their part to help honor and respect veterans. Both organizations made sure to communicate that regardless of status, you can join as long as you care about the military and people who perform a public service.
A large amount of support showed up to Shiloh General Baptist Church to see Seaman Lawrence finally return home, including members of the Navy who would send off Lawrence and present the flag to his nephew. Whitney Johnson also took time to visit, a woman who also properly buried her uncle in 2017 who also died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
