RGV community say final goodbyes to unaccompanied U.S. Air Force veteran

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery held an unaccompanied veteran burial on Thursday for a U.S. Air Force Veteran.

U.S. Air Force Sgt. Marc A. Jones was laid to rest with no next of kin but the Rio Grande Valley came out to say their final goodbyes to Sgt. Jones.

David Mares, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1980 to 1990, said it felt good to honor a fellow Air Force veteran.

"I've done it quite a few times. I've been with the Patriot Guard Riders as a motorcycle funeral escort for veterans for over a year and considered it an honor. Consider it an honor to be a part of the picture guard and doing this escort and flag ceremony for our veterans," said Mares.

Sgt. Jones served from May 1973 to July 1975 and received the National Defense Service Medal.