VIEW ORIGINAL
A World War II Soldier is finally coming home to North Alabama.
The remains of Pfc. Noah Reeves are being flown from Kansas and will land at the Birmingham Airport on Thursday at 5 p.m. Reeves, a forward scout, was 25 when he was killed in action in 1944 in the Netherlands. He was listed as missing in action.
Three years after the war, a hunter found his bones which were subsequently identified through DNA processing. Reeves, originally from Muck City in Lawrence County, was single.
“His mother grieved herself to death over his loss,” Phil Terry, commander of American Legion Post 25 in Moulton, said. “And they had a marker where he was to be buried.”
An honor guard from American Legion Post 25 in Moulton and American Legion Post 15 in Decatur will render honors on the tarmac at the Birmingham airport. A motorcade of veterans will follow the hearse on Highway 20 out of the airport to Highway 65 heading north, to the Cullman exit at Highway 157 to Moulton. They will arrive at the Lawrence Funeral Home.
Reeves will lie in state on Monday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lawrence Funeral Home.
“And the veterans will be standing honor guard at the head and foot of his casket,” Terry said. “The public is invited. Anyone that wants to pay their respects to one who’s given his all for his country, this is a great time to do that.”
The American Legion Post 25 Auxiliary planned to place yellow ribbons, donated by a local business, on trees and posts all the way from Moulton to the Lawrence County line. Multiple fire departments along the route will have American flags hanging from their fire trucks.
“Beyond the fact that Noah gave his all for his country, he continues to give today,” Terry said. “The many American flags flying should help patriotism and increase community cohesiveness to bring people together, which I think is something we are missing in this country.
“Veterans coming together to honor Noah brings our veteran community closer together. Also, the fact that our country continues efforts to return those missing in action fills veterans with a sense of pride. We as veterans bid a final farewell to our brother in arms Noah. May you rest in peace.”
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