Hundreds attend the funeral for Air Force veteran John James Murphy
Active duty military members who were in attendance carry the casket. (AP)When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill., funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (AP)A mourner salutes. When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Susan Deuchler takes a moment to honor John James Murphy. When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)When John James Murphy died in Elgin last month, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. Hundreds of people from Elgin and as far as Chicago, Aurora and Naperville attended his visitation and service Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 after the owners of an Elgin, Ill. funeral home extended an open invitation to the community. The funeral home took on the task of having his military burial approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)
