In a testament to unyielding brotherhood and the spirit of service, a group of veteran bikers rallied to ensure that one of their own, who had fallen through the societal cracks, was not denied the dignity and honor of a proper farewell.
An American patriot, Robert Krause, who once bravely served as a Marine, met an unfortunate end alone and homeless. Tragically, no one from his family stepped forward to claim his body, leading to a band of patriotic bikers, veterans themselves, to ensure his parting was not without respect and dignity.
Every American lives and breathes freedom today, thanks to the selfless sacrifices made by veterans like Robert Krause. Regrettably, many of these heroes end up homeless, dying alone, and forgotten. Robert Krause was one such Marine, who served with pride in the 1950s, only to be ignored and forgotten at his death, contributing to the heart-wrenching statistics of veterans who die without family or a home.
Sometimes, the reasons are complicated. A family may not know about the passing of their veteran relative or be deterred by the paperwork needed to claim the body. But Nick Morales, a veteran of the Marine Corps and US Army and a proud member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, strongly believed that Krause’s service deserved recognition, and he deserved a dignified farewell.
Morales spoke eloquently, “A veteran dies twice: once on the battlefield and the second time when people stop saying his name.” He was determined to prevent the latter, partnering with other volunteers to escort Krause’s hearse from the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa to the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
David Allen, another veteran, echoed Morales’ sentiments. Discovering that numerous veterans died unclaimed in Tampa Bay alone each year, he rallied his fellow bikers to stand for their fallen comrades. “This is the last opportunity that, as a combat veteran myself, I have to show respect for this veteran,” said Allen.
For Morales, it was an honor to ensure no veteran would be buried alone.
“Our motto is ‘vets helping vets,’” he affirmed. “We all have a common bond of service – our service, what we’ve done for our country. And regardless of what we’ve done after our service, we still have that bond.”
The Florida National Cemetery holds a group service every quarter for unclaimed veterans. But individual services are also welcome, as in the case of Robert Krause, who, thanks to Morales and his friends, received a dignified funeral.
These biker veterans ensured that Krause’s sacrifice for his nation was remembered, giving him a proper escort and a heartfelt musical tribute with the “Taps” bugle call. They did not know him in life, but they made sure to speak his name at his funeral, honoring his contribution.
Regrettably, Robert Krause isn’t an isolated case. There are many ‘unclaimed veterans,’ homeless and dying alone, such as Lieutenant Richard Butterfield. Like Krause, Butterfield, a Vietnam veteran, passed alone. But the Homeless Veterans Burial Program shared his story, leading to an unexpected crowd of over 100 people attending his service at the Georgia National Cemetery.
Bishop David Epps, who performed Butterfield’s funeral service, beautifully summed it up: “Whatever else happened in his life, where he was homeless, penniless, and alone. Whatever happened, happened. Today, he will be honored. He will be surrounded by his brothers.”
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