Korean War veteran Eileen Robichaud. (Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home)
METHUEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Methuen funeral director is asking the public to help honor a Korean War veteran who died with no local family.
Eileen Robichaud, 84 was set to be buried alone until Aaron Mizen, director of the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, planned a service for her with full military honors.
“When I heard about her story, it just brought it home to me,” Mizen, a veteran himself, said. “This is my calling, this is what I need to do.”
Robichaud was described as “very intelligent, artistic and creative” in the Eagle-Tribune’s obituary of her.
“She felt the call of duty and enlisted in the United States Navy after graduating from high school,” the obituary read. “A decorated Korean War veteran, she served honorably in a naval aviation squadron from September 8, 1953, to September 6, 1957.”
This isn’t Mizen’s first time making sure a member of the armed forces received a proper farewell. Six months ago, he did the same for a World War II veteran, and 150 community members came to that service.
Community Turns Out In Droves To Honor WWII Vet Who Died Without Family
“It gives me some peace, I guess if you want to call it that,” Mizen said. “It gives me purpose.”
Robichaud’s funeral is Friday at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen at 11 a.m. The public is invited.
WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports
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