The burial ceremony for veterans Glenn Dorsey and Mark Roy attracted more than 100 people at the Tallahassee National Cemetery, July 13, 2026. Courtesy, Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat
As many of us are still celebrating America 250, it is important to not lose sight of the sacrifices and sense of community that allowed our great nation to persevere. A scene displaying such remembrance played out at the Tallahassee National Cemetery last week, when Glenn Dorsey and Mark Roy, veterans of the Marine Corps and U.S. Army, respectively, were to be interred. Neither of the two had family members come forth to claim their remains, but instead of an empty procession, more than 100 strangers came to wish them farewell. A beautiful story and pictures from the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper captured the incredibly moving sendoff, where members of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, local veteran groups, and local residents all joined together to offer a final salute to the two men.
‘Unclaimed veterans,’ as they are termed, are sadly not an uncommon phenomenon. Many who served our country often cannot have their next of kin or any family members located at the time of their passing, and without sufficient resources in their estate or someone willing to pay for burial arrangements, usually the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs works with local governments and organizations to locate a funeral home and arrange for a dignified burial. Such was the case with Mr. Dorsey and Mr. Roy, but they were more fortunate than others, with a crowd to pay respects to the lives laid out before them.
The service included the playing of Taps and a gun salute. Courtesy, Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat
“As sad as it is with the passing of comrades, we rejoice in the ability to offer honors and our final respect,” Chaplain Eric Smith said. “We thank (God) for the gift of their life and for their service to our country and for the love they shared with their family and friends.”
Many in attendance were visibly moved by the gravity of the event, with adults and children alike wiping away tears throughout the eulogy. A gun salute and a bugle call signaled the end of two lives and the end of a beautiful display of the fabric of our great nation – two men who did not know each other in life, brought together in the twilight of their service to America, each other, and humanity, laid to rest under the guard of the next generation. While we all celebrate a quarter of a millennium in the land of the free, it is important to remember the lives that built the foundation on which we stand. We urge you to read more about the burial ceremony here.
Also as we start this week: Tropical Storm Bertha could form as early as this morning (July 20) from the tropical depression that’s off Florida’s Gulf Coast and expected to be a rainmaker in the Panhandle. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from the Ochlockonee River, south of Tallahassee, to the Alabama border, as of 11pm last night (July 19). Please monitor the National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) for the very latest, and throughout this week.
Up next: a startling reversal in Florida property insurance litigation, a significant change in course by insurance regulators on home mitigation inspections, Florida’s big FEMA windfall as Congress plots FEMA’s future, the latest court rulings on insurance cases, plus the debate over Daylight Saving Time. Thanks for reading!
LMA Newsletter of 7-20-26
