When a Vietnam War veteran died Christmas Eve with no family nearby, a community of veterans, a friend and military supporters in North Carolina stepped up to make sure he was finally laid to rest with military honors. They ensured that Phillip "Flip" Drye's military paperwork, delayed by last winter's government shutdown, arrived. "We've always taken care of those that have taken care of us," said Robert Branum, the funeral home's general manager. Branum said the 35-day government shutdown, which began Dec. 22 and ended Jan. 25, bogged down Drye's military paperwork, thus delaying the funeral. Drye, who held the rank of specialist 4, didn't like to talk about Vietnam, Blackwelder said.

Source: ABC News April 06, 2019 13:19 UTC