MOSCOW, Pa. — A community in Lackawanna County made sure a veteran who has no family was given a proper funeral.
A Vietnam veteran from Lackawanna County passed away last month and would have gone without a funeral if it weren't for the people who had been delivering him takeout meals for the past year.
The Mess Hall in Covington Township closed for the day. Instead, the manager delivered on the promise she made to treat all her customers like family.
Kelly Borelli and staff saved the best seat in the house for the urn they had donated for john Erck of Gouldsboro.
Erck was disabled and homebound but called The mess Hall for takeout so much that he could have kept it running during the pandemic.
"It got to be an everyday thing, 7:15 7:30 in the morning he would call, and I'd get it over there," said Charles Charland. "Then 2:30, 3:00 in the afternoon, he would call as well."
That pattern continued for 14 months until John passed away last month.
"The guys went above and beyond. Getting groceries, we would do that, anything and everything he needed, honestly. He tugged my heart because he was a Vietnam vet, and so was my father," Kelly Borelli said.
So, with full military honors, The Mess Hall staff prepared one last delivery, organizing a procession to the cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap where John will be laid to rest. The Mess hall made sure he left our area with the respect he deserves.
"Vietnam veterans were not welcomed home. We all know that, honestly, no matter where you went or lived, so he deserves to be welcomed home."
"Today means he goes home where he belongs, and that's exactly what should have happened," Charland said. "I'm very happy to be a part of that."
The North Pocono High School band played, local Girl Scouts lined the road, and the Spring Brook Township Fire Department had its trucks out.
Erck's body was escorted to Fort Indiantown Gap, where he'll be buried.