NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — Edward J. Lail of Niagara Falls passed away in September at the age of 81, after a brief illness. He was laid to rest on Thursday at Oakwood Cemetery in the presence of a priest and the Military Honor Guards.
Those were the only attendees the funeral home was expecting for Lail, who had no family in the area. However, more than 30 people showed up for the burial-- many of them servicemembers. Some came from as far away as Fort Drum.
Lail served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in August of 1966. Oakwood Cemetery Heritage Foundation says an email was sent out that a veteran without family was being buried.
Following his military service, Lail was a pastry chef at the Red Carpet Inn in Niagara Falls. He was also a longtime member of St. Joseph's Parish.
The Oakwood Cemetery Heritage Foundation posted about the profound moment on its Facebook page:
