WWII veteran's 1,000-mile funeral procession spans 6 states, 3 days

A veteran of World War II is being honored with a 1,000-mile long funeral procession that will bury him near his home in Kentucky.

Posted 4:12 p.m. Apr 17, 2021 — Updated 4:21 p.m. Apr 17, 2021

SARASOTA, FLA. — A veteran of World War II is being honored with a 1,000-mile long funeral procession that will take him to his home state of Kentucky for a proper burial.

Colonel Wallace Taylor died recently at 96 in Tampa, Fla. Taylor outlived all his family members, but a friend helped arrange the procession.

Rob Lynch told the nonprofit Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) about his death. The group organizes military burials for unclaimed veterans.

The procession left Friday from Sarasota, Fla. and is expected to arrive at a Louisville cemetery on Sunday, where a military service is planned with a 21-gun salute. Taylor will be buried where other family members have been laid to rest.

Motorcyclists are escorting the hearse for various parts of the trip.

"People see what we're doing," said David Allen with CVMA. "A lot of the times, they'll just see the motorcycles, and come flying up, but then they see the hearse, that's when they slow down and it's a thumbs up and waves and 'good job' and all the support along the way. It's really a special feeling, it really is."

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