SHAWANO, WI- This Saturday, Shawano will hold a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony to honor Air Force Private Herbert E. McLaughlin, the city’s first casualty of World War II, as he is finally laid to rest in his hometown after 84 years. The service will begin with a horse-drawn caisson carrying McLaughlin’s casket from Swedberg Funeral Home up Fifth Street to Woodlawn Cemetery, followed by a riderless horse and U.S. Army pallbearers. The public is invited to line the route and attend the 11 a.m. burial, which will take place in the cemetery’s Ring of Honor, where flags stand in tribute to local veterans.
“This will be an opportunity to see something similar to what happens at Arlington when a serviceman is laid to rest at our National Cemetery,” said Phil Nelson, quartermaster for the Shawano VFW. “It’s the only time in my lifetime I can remember something like this happening here.”
McLaughlin was killed in action at Hickam Field in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. For decades, his remains were unidentified until a DNA match was confirmed in December 2024, thanks to a sample provided years earlier by his grandniece. “We never really thought about it happening after so long,” Nelson said. “But once we got the word, our post took great pride in making sure Herbert will be honored the way he deserves.”
Nelson hopes the turnout reflects the magnitude of the day. “We want everyone in Shawano and the surrounding area to be aware of this,” he said. “Herbert will finally be home, right in the center of our cemetery, where people can pay their respects for years to come.”
Comments