Fort Leonard Wood community honors Navy veteran

By Ms. Dawn M Arden (Leonard Wood)August 31, 2017

Fort Leonard Wood community honors Navy veteran
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Seaman Jason Rollins, left, and Seaman Nicholas Verver, right, students with the Navy Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood, lead the procession for the interment of Chief Petty Officer Arthur "Bill" Craft at the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leonard Wood community honors Navy veteran
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leonard Wood community honors Navy veteran
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief Petty Officer Arthur "Bill" Craft was interred at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery - Fort Leonard Wood Aug. 24 with full military honors. The Fort Leonard Wood community, including many service members on post, stepped in to act as Family since C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

It was standing room only at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery - Fort Leonard Wood Aug. 24 as service members from all branches joined community members to pay their final respects to an unaccompanied veteran who most had never met.

Chief Petty Officer Arthur "Bill" Craft joined the United Stated Navy after graduating high school in 1958. Craft was a Vietnam veteran and retired after devoting more than 20 years of service to his country.

He was laid to rest in the presence of his fellow military brothers and sisters who came out to ensure he was paid the proper respects, representing the strong connection between those who serve and for Family who were unable to attend.

"We're here to pay our respects to a passing Navy veteran," said Marine Staff Sgt. Timothy Cruz, who added he finds comfort in the amount of support shown by the community. "Regardless of service or background, we are all together and willing to support each other."

Cemetery director Charles Baxter said Craft has one elderly sister living out of state who was unable to attend, leaving him with no one to accompany him to his final resting place. So the call was put out for community support.

"We have an unwritten policy that no veteran is interred here alone," Baxter said. "They served their country for a number of years, in this case he was a retiree. We like to at least let them be sent on their way with some acknowledgment of what it is they've done."

According to Baxter, the response from Fort Leonard Wood and the surrounding communities is very good.

"It's the community," Baxter said. "Being in the military, you have that certain connection with all of these brothers and sisters who have served together, so to be out here you are amongst people who you know, even if you've never met them before."

Sailors from the Navy Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood, supported the services, and the funeral was officiated by Navy Chaplain (Lt.) Jeremy Bennett, detachment chaplain.

Bennett said Craft was a fellow Sailor and retired veteran who was a great example of service.

"The life lived and the commitment upheld by Chief Petty Officer Arthur Craft serves as reminders to us here that our work and labors are not yet finished," Bennett said. "For each of us who have served, may our lives be one that continues to honor his memory."

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