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Pikes Peak National Cemetery asking community to attend funeral for Air Force veteran Wednesday

AIR FORCE VET
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COLORADO SPRINGS — The Pikes Peak National Cemetery is asking the community to show up for an Air Force veteran's funeral service on Wednesday, September 25th at the cemetery in Colorado Springs.

The cemetery staff reached out to me saying Air Force Sergeant Leroy Abbot is considered what is known as an 'unclaimed veteran' because there are no family or friends connected to him.

Cemetery staff says Abbott was born on May 10, 1945, in Erie, Pennsylvania and passed away on July 29 in Pueblo. They say he served during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968, however the cemetery does not believe he was sent overseas during the war.

We tried to find any family or friends through the senior living community where he lived, the funeral home that handled his body, the public administrator appointed to oversee his case, the Pueblo County Coroner, his previous employer, and through our own searches.

We were, however, able to track down the two pictures of him that are below. The first is his driver's license photo, the other is a photo from the ranchers who once employed him.

Sergeant Leroy Abbott

If you would like to attend the funeral, it is Wednesday, September 25th at 10 a.m. at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Drennan Road.

News5 will be there and look forward to honoring this veteran's service to our country.

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Honor Flight 19 Makes It To Washington DC

Honor Flight of Southern Colorado is a group that works to give veterans of Southern Colorado and all expenses paid trips to our nation's capital. News5 Brie Groves got a chance to tag along with Honor Flight 19 and tell the stories of the individuals who dedicated their lives to service.

Members of Honor Flight 19 pay respects decades in the making

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