HOPKINVSILLE, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to a local Vietnam veteran who was laid to rest Friday morning.

A service was held for Michael Hardin April 5, 2019 at West Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. Earlier this week, Dover VFW Post 4730 said Hardin had no known family and placed a call for volunteers to give the service member a proper send-off.

However, according to the cemetery’s funeral director, Hardin’s daughter was located late Thursday evening. She and approximately 200 mourners were in attendance Friday to pay their final respects to Hardin.

Hardin served from 1945 until 1968 as a Dental Lab Specialist in the Army and completed a tour in Vietnam where he received a Purple Heart.

Soldiers, veterans, the Patriot Guard Riders, and dozens of community members attended the service.

Photos by Samantha Knight: