Long-missing World War II soldier laid to rest just off Route 66

On this Memorial Day, I commend this recent story from the Chicago Tribune to your attention.

It’s about how DNA technology and a lot of diligence identified the remains of a previously unidentified World War II soldier — Army Pvt. James C. Loyd of Alabama, who died in battle in Italy in 1944.

Janice Dale, one of only two close relatives of Loyd surviving, is part of this indelible scene of bringing his remains to Baskerville Funeral Home in the Route 66 town of Wilmington, Illinois, and on to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in nearby Elwood for final burial:

Colon presented Dale with replicas of Pvt. Loyd’s dog tags — the originals lost with him in Italy. She held them tightly in her hands. She held them as the procession from Midway began, with the Illinois State Police leading a long line of vehicles and roaring motorcycles out of the city and down I-55. She held them while the outskirts of Chicago turned into the countryside and while the procession made its way to the old Route 66 town of Wilmington, Illinois, where people pulled over to salute the hearse bringing Pvt. Loyd home. […]

The procession from Baskerville to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was not unlike the one from Midway to the funeral home, except even more people came outside to see it.

The funeral procession passed the nearby schools, with a long line of teachers and students on sidewalks, holding little American flags, hands over hearts. Some held small cards, distributed by Matthew Baskerville of the funeral home, with Pvt. Loyd’s photo.

Seeing schoolkids stand in solemn unity like that, Dale found it impossible not to cry.

The procession wound around downtown Wilmington, a place of small-town Americana, and passed the Route 66 Creamery, an ice cream shop where a man held a giant American flag. It was like that for 7 miles to the cemetery, where members of the Rolling Thunder served as pallbearers amid the sound of “Amazing Grace” from bagpipes in the distance.

More here about Loyd and his burial:

Loyd’s obituary is here.

DNA technology identified the remains of a long-missing Vietnam War fighter pilot from my central Illinois hometown, resulting in the biggest funeral there anyone could recall.

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