The Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission will conduct an unaccompanied veteran burial at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, for U.S. Marine Corps veteran Pfc. Jack Alexis Shaffer, according to a news release from the Texas General Land Office (GLO).
Shaffer was born Jan. 9, 1946, and served from January 1965 to January 1969, the GLO said. His decorations include the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device (1960– ), according to the release.
Shaffer is not expected to have any next of kin attend the service, the GLO said. The agency asked the public to help spread the word and ensure that the Marine Corps veteran is not buried alone, and said members of the Mission community are encouraged to attend.
Shaffer will receive military honors, according to the release. If no next of kin is present, a Veterans Land Board representative will accept the United States flag on his behalf, the agency said.
The Texas Veterans Land Board works with local communities and veterans service organizations to ensure no veteran is left behind, according to the GLO.
Media planning to attend the burial should email the GLO press office at media@glo.texas.gov ahead of time with an RSVP, the agency said.