A 58-year-old veteran who was left abandoned in the morgue at Northern Hospital brought together a group of people who found a common goal — to honor a former airman for his service to the country.

Scott Farley, a resident of Mount Airy, died on May 8 at home from lung cancer. He was a patient under the care of Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, but had only been in their care for less than two weeks.

He has a sister, but she did not want to claim the body, citing financial reasons as well as the fact they had been out of touch for years. He also has a daughter, but had been out of touch with her as well.

Angie Thomas, assistant county Veteran’s Service officer, learned of Farley’s story on May 11. That was her first day back on the job after having taken some time off after her mother died. She answered a telephone call from Katarina Jarrell, a social worker with Mountain Valley Hospice, who told Thomas of the man, and the fact that he was a veteran.

“I’ve been here four years and this is the first time this has ever happened. It really hit home with me because it was the very first day at work after my mom died in hospice care. I deal with death every day, but when it hits home, it’s different,” Thomas said.

This prompted Thomas to research Farley’s service and check for any veteran benefits he may have. She also made calls to funeral homes, social services and the other veterans organizations for help.

Thanks to the efforts of Thomas and those who heard of the man’s story, next Monday, the Patriot Guard Riders will escort Farley’s cremains to the Salisbury National Cemetery for a proper funeral. The Rowan County VFW will present the colors at the interment service that will begin at 1 p.m.

At least 50 motorcycles and cars will leave from the Surry County Human Services building between 10:45 and 11 a.m. Through Thomas’ work on the case, Farley will receive a full military rites funeral.

Scott Farley was a member of the U.S. Airforce and served in South Carolina. Because hospice was called in just days before he died, not much more is known about his service in the military.

His last wish was to be cremated. Cox-Needham Funeral Home provided the cremation services at a reduced rate after receiving a phone call from Thomas asking if they could help.

She said before he could be cremated, Surry County Department of Social Services had to step in order to get his body released to the funeral home, since a family member would not sign for him.

Don McClusky, who is the ride captain with the Patriot Guard, said the guard will be also be accompanying members of the Surry County Veteran’s Service office and hospice workers to the cemetery. McClusky welcomes anyone who wishes to ride with the group. He said no motorcycle is required to ride with the group. The riders will fly American flags on the way to the cemetery and will form a semi-circle with flags at the interment site.

“Honoring the veteran’s service is what it is all about,” McClusky said.

The ride will leaving the parking lot of the Surry County Human Services building and proceed onto U.S. 601, then will proceed down U.S. 52 south through Surry County.

The Patriot Guard is involved in a program called MIA, or Missing in America, which is a program that seeks out the cremains of veterans they may have been left abandoned at funeral homes across the United States to make sure the veteran receives a proper burial.

Farley was born in Forsyth County to James Peter and Jewel Hegge Farley. He is survived by his sister, Robin Anderson, and a friend, Susan Young.

Surry County Veterans Service Officer Mike Scott wanted to stress that not enough veterans know what benefits that are available to them.

“Even with veterans who do have family members, they need to know that they have benefits that might be available to them. If that veteran passes it makes it much more difficult for the spouse or the children to get the benefits,” Scott said.

Of the effort mounted by Thomas and others to see the veteran receive a proper funeral, Scott said, it speaks highly of all of the veteran’s organizations and hospice workers that became involved in the cause.

“Here’s a guy, he was a veteran, he was unclaimed with no family to speak of — the outpouring of response to this is a testament to the dedication of all of the agencies involved.”

Sheila Jones, director of development with Mountain Valley Hospice, is proud of the way all of the different agencies came together to provide a dignified end to Farley’s life.

“I think this says a lot about where we live. I am a transplant from Alabama and I can’t imagine living anywhere else than this community. This man’s death has brought more awareness of what we can do to help each other and to help more veterans,” Jones said.

Jarrell, the hospice social worker who attended to Farley, only began working with him 12 days before he died, feels she really got to know him.

“One of the many things hospice social workers do is try to help family and patients explore end of life issues. He had nobody and it’s just kind of sad because he was by himself. But, he was very sweet. He was content to live a very simple life and he was fine with it. He was a simple man. I feel good that we are able to do this much for him. Veterans don’t get enough credit. They have done so much for us, we need to give back to them every chance we get,” said Jarrell.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.