Country music star John Rich was among hundreds who attended the funeral of an 88-year-old Navy veteran who had few surviving friends and family members.
A woman recently shared a post in a Nashville Facebook group after the death of her great-uncle, Donald Harlow, urging people to consider attending his funeral, according to Whiskey Riff. As noted in his obituary, Harlow, who died Dec. 27, was a "proud veteran" who served with the Navy's Sixth Fleet before embarking on a career as a craftsman and a "seasoned tool and die designer."
Harlow had outlived most of his close friends and family members, being survived just by his brother and three nieces and nephews.
So his great-niece recently put out her request to community members.
"My grandfather and mom are the only ones who are going to the funeral since unfortunately he was very old and the last of his friends," she wrote. "It breaks my heart to hear how upset my grandfather is knowing no one will be there. Is there anyone in the Nashville, TN area who would possibly be interested in going to his quick funeral at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. It would mean the world if even one person showed up for him."
Her plea caught the attention of Rich, who shared her social media post on X.
"I'm checking my schedule right now to try and be there," he wrote while calling on the Veterans of Foreign War group to "raise a group of Vets" to attend the funeral.
The plea went viral and on Wednesday morning "hundreds of mourners," including Rich, arrived at the Veterans Cemetery to pay their final respects to Harlow, Whiskey Riff reported.
"Thanks to all the Patriots who came out to honor US Navy Veteran, Mr Donald Harlow, at his funeral today," Rich later wrote on social media. "We thank him for his service, and our thoughts are with his family. No Veteran should ever be buried alone."