The casket of Army Cpl. Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I, is carried to the graveside funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Buckles died last month at his Charles Town, W.Va., home at age 110. (AP Photo)ARLINGTON, Va. – Frank Buckles was buried Tuesday with the pomp and ceremony befitting the man who outlived 4.7 million other Americans who served in World War I.
His flag-draped casket was carried to his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery on a caisson led by seven horses. A seven-man firing party fired three rifle volleys and a bugler played “Taps” as hundreds of onlookers saluted or held their hands to their hearts.
At the end of the graveside service, soldiers from the Army’s vaunted “Old Guard” folded the flag as an Army band played “America the Beautiful.” Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli presented it to Buckles’ daughter, Susannah Flanagan.
“To our comrade in arms, Frank Woodruff Buckles, our nation bestows military honors,” said Lt. Col. Keith N. Croom, an Army chaplain. “In life, he honored the flag. Now, the flag honors him.”
Buckles lied about his age to enlist at 16. He died last month at his Charles Town, W.Va., home, at age 110.