Overview
- Hundreds gathered for a funeral Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Hanson on Monday, then a police-led procession brought John Bernard Arnold III to Cedar Knoll Cemetery in Taunton with full military honors.
- Arnold, 98, died May 6 with no known relatives, and veterans’ service officer Terrence O’Keeffe asked on Facebook for attendees, pallbearers and procession participants to ensure he was not laid to rest alone.
- Volunteer slots filled quickly and Hanson police prepared for crowds by closing part of Route 14 and arranging overflow parking at nearby lots.
- Coverage described a broad public turnout that included veterans, police, firefighters and EMTs, with CBS Boston reporting hundreds in attendance and some outlets estimating about 1,500.
- Caregivers from the Garrison Veterans Home, where Arnold spent his later years, said he planned his funeral a decade ago and remembered him as a cheerful presence who loved classical music and chocolate cake.