The Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene will conduct an Unaccompanied Veteran Burial for U.S. Navy Veteran Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Lynn Bishop at 10 a.m. Aug. 18, according to an Aug. 13 news release from the Texas General Land Office.
Born April 12, 1947, Bishop served from July 1966 to April 1970 and received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal for his service to the nation, the release said.
Bishop is not expected to have any next-of-kin attend his burial, and the agency asked for help spreading the word and encouraged members of the Abilene community to attend so the Navy veteran is not buried alone. Bishop will receive military honors, and if no next-of-kin is present at the burial, a Veterans Land Board representative will accept the United States flag on his behalf.
The Texas Veterans Land Board works with local communities and fellow veterans service organizations through its Unaccompanied Veterans Program to ensure no veteran is ever left behind, according to the release.