LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A World War II and Korean War veteran has been laid to rest in his old Kentucky home. 

What You Need To Know

  • Colonel Wallace Anderson Taylor was a WWII and Korean War veteran

  • Taylor’s final resting place is Resthaven Cemetery next to his mother 

  • Volunteers traveled more than 1,000 miles to escort Taylor

  • Taylor passed away at 96 

The “final mile” involves volunteers of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and Patriot Guard Riders who traveled more than 1,000 miles to escort Louisville native Colonel Wallace Anderson Taylor to his final resting place. 

“We love what we do, we never wanted to let a veteran be laid to rest without somebody there, it’s very important to us,” David Ballard, Patriot Guard ride captain, said. 

The three-day journey across seven states involved several farewells and more veteran organizations than anyone could have imagined. Robert Lynch, a veteran experienced officer at the Tampa VA and friend of Taylor, was amazed at the turnout. 

Veterans and others honor Colonel Wallace Anderson Taylor.

“As we drove in and got closer, we stopped at this gas station and had 125 bikes waiting for us, I was just blown away. I mean the common thread, I started thinking about it, why are all these people together? We’re veterans, every one of us is a veteran, that's the common thread,” Lynch said. 

Taylor died at the age of 96 in February. But unmarried with no surviving relatives, his body went unclaimed for months. For Melissa Scharber, his friend and caretaker for his final months, she was as close to family as it got for Taylor. 

“He was a special man and he didn't have any immediate family with him and he just kind of became our family. He got to know my children and we just wanted to be there for him,” Scharber said. 

Thanks to donations from friends and volunteers, Taylor was able to be returned to his home state of Kentucky. And when he arrived, hundreds of people came out to give him a well-deserved final salute. 

“I think he'd be blown away honestly, I really do. I don't think he would have ever expected this. This little old man from Zephyrhills, I’m blown away by it and I think he would be too,” Scharber said.

Granting his one last wish, to be buried with his mother at Resthaven Cemetery. 

“He has a blanket that his mother made him and is being buried with him,” Ballard said. 

Taylor spent the last 30 years as a patient at the Tampa Veterans Hospital.