FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On September 11, the Fayetteville community came together to honor Anthony Broude, a Vietnam War veteran who passed away unclaimed and without family to attend his burial. Broude, who served in the U.S. Army for three years during the Vietnam War, was highly decorated, receiving honors such as the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and marksman awards for various weapons.
The ceremony at Fayetteville National Cemetery was marked by a significant turnout, with roads lined by motorcycles, American flags, veterans, and civilians paying their respects. Despite the show of support, Broude’s family was notably absent. Following his death on August 5, 2024, Broude was deemed “unclaimed” by the Washington County Coroner’s Office, which was unable to locate his children.
In the absence of family, Broude’s close friends, Loren Heard and Samuel Baker, attended the service to honor his memory and receive the folded flag. “During his time in the military in Vietnam, he did his best to prepare all his men, and he gave it to them straight. He was tough on them, but he was tough. And he told them why, so they’d all come back as many as possible,” Heard reflected.
Heard shared personal memories of Broude, expressing how much she would miss his humor, their debates, and his storytelling. “I’m going to miss his humor and I’m going to miss arguing with him. We used to argue a lot and make up. We had different opinions, but we had our own opinions and respected that, and I’m going to miss his stories,” she said.
Jannie Layne, founder and president of Bo’s Blessings, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, stepped in to ensure Broude received a proper burial with honors. Layne’s organization frequently fills the role of family for veterans in similar situations. “We step in and become his family, make sure he gets a burial with honors at the national cemetery,” Layne said.
Layne, who began her work with Bo’s Blessings nearly 14 years ago after the loss of her own son, is deeply committed to ensuring that no veteran is forgotten. “The thought of someone being buried and no one to stand next, to pray over them, to pray for them, to remember them, to speak their name is something that my organization and myself — we just don’t want ever to happen. You know, if you say somebody’s name, they’re never forgotten,” she explained.
On September 11, Layne emphasized the significance of honoring Broude on a day that marks a profound moment of sacrifice in American history. “9/11 changed the world we live in, and it changed my world because my son was serving. So today we took time out of the terror, and we recognized a man who served in the terror of Vietnam. He served his country proudly, and we took time out of the grief and the terror and the pain, and we paid honor and respect to a man who deserved it,” Layne said.
To learn more about Bo’s Blessings and its mission to support veterans, visit their Facebook page.
