Since the founding of the Missing in America Project in 2007, 4000 veterans who were unclaimed by their loved ones have been recovered, identified, and laid to rest. Some of these remains date back to the civil war, and so far 35 have been interred in Georgia. For decades, the unclaimed remains of veterans have been filed onto shelves at funeral homes and churches across America. It is unknown why families did not retrieve their ashes, but there are estimated to be between 50,000 and 75,000 more sets of veteran’s unclaimed remains around the country. On Tuesday, as a joint effort between Roswell High School’s Young Republicans club and Young Democrats Club, nearly a hundred students gave up their lunch period and study hall to stand by the street in freezing weather with American Flags to pay their respects to 7 WW2 veterans who will finally receive the full military honors they deserve at the Georgia National Cemetery for selflessly serving our great nation. I was proud to suggest and coordinate this event with several teachers and administration at Roswell High School. Though the escort unexpectedly left 15 minutes earlier than planned and the students missed the procession, they instead spontaneously and patriotically sang the National Anthem as a tribute to the sacrifice of the veterans to the United States.
Technician Sgt. John Francis Campbell Jr was Originally from Essex County, N.J., and then lived in Alpharetta. He was 85 when he died in 1996. He was married and had a daughter and three grandchildren. Campbell worked as a federal government manager and served in the military between 1942-1945.
Technician Fifth Grade John Embert was From Canonsburg, Pa., and he served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945. He died at 86 in 1984. His military enlistment records show he was a metal worker.
Sgt. Robert Erwood Forrest Sr. was Born in Los Angeles, and he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps between 1944-1946 and the U.S. Air Force between 1952-1953. He worked as a commercial airline pilot and was 71 when he died in 1998 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. He was married and lived in Roswell.
Private First Class Robert Lee Green was Born in Polk County, Ga., he served in the Army between 1942-1946. He died at age 61 in 1984.
Specialist. 1st Class James Sheridan was Born in Hudson County, N.J., he served in U.S. Navy Reserve on active duty from 1942-1945. He died in 2000 at age 81.
Capt. Frank Shortley Teasley served in the U.S. Army Air Corps between 1941-1946 and the U.S. Air Force between 1946-1949. He served in “all areas, including Europe, Africa, India and all of the Far East,” according to a funeral notice. Teasley received an Air Medal, which is awarded for heroism or meritorious achievements. He was also the recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic-Pacific campaign medals. Teasley lived in Woodstock, was never married and was 79 when he died in 1999.
Sgt. William H. Wallengren: Born in Hartford, Conn., he served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1946. His military records show he served in the Philippines and received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He died at age 56 in 1983.
Source: AJC