SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Most of the 2,000-plus people who gathered in the Florida heat Tuesday didn’t know Edward Pearson. They knew little, if anything, about the life of the 80-year-old Army veteran. But they knew of his death, and that was reason enough to attend his funeral. They came on rumbling Harley Davidsons and in sleek Mercedes. They walked into the service with the aid of canes and service dogs. Women clasped bouquets of white flowers. Men gripped American flags large and small.

Source: 2,000-plus turn up at funeral of Florida veteran with no kin