Virginia: You're Invited to a Hero's Welcome

From Tri-Cities.com : You're Invited to a Hero's Welcome
GATE CITY, Va. — Scott County residents are readying a hero's welcome for a Korean War veteran and prisoner-of-war whose remains are coming home to Virginia after being gone for more than 60 years.

The body of Cpl. William Ray Sluss is slated to arrive by hearse in Gate City, Va., during the afternoon of Feb. 16, at about 5 p.m., said Diane Ison, the office manager at the Scott County Funeral Home.

“We just want people lined up with their flags and basically just a big welcome home,” Ison said.

Born in Scott County, Va., to Otis and Zola Sluss on Aug. 2, 1929, Sluss enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 and served in the Korean War. He was taken prisoner on Nov. 30, 1950 and died on April 30, 1951 in a POW camp in North Korea. His family was notified of his death in 1954.

Recovery missions recovered Sluss in 2007, but the recovery process conducted by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command involves several phases and can take many years, Ison said.

Well-wishers are invited for the arrival on Feb. 16, Ison said, when they can sign Sluss’ register book.

Sluss' survivors include a sister, Buena Jester, of Indianapolis, Ind., and a brother, Lincoln Powers, of Nickelsville, Va.

The family is receiving friends on Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to noon, at Gate City Funeral Home.

The public is also invited to the memorial services on Saturday, Feb. 18, noon, at Gate City Funeral Home's Gene Falin Memorial Chapel, where Sluss is slated to receive full military honors.

Music is being provided by Jamie Broadwater, Crawford Crossing and Trey Hensley.

Military Graveside Services are being conducted immediately after the service at Holston View Cemetery in Weber City, Va., with the Military Funeral Honors Team of Ft. Lee and American Legion Hammond Post No. 3 of Kingsport, Tenn., as well as Post No. 265 of Gate City.

Flag Line is being provided by the Patriot Guard Riders.

"We’re going to have a lot of the local veterans groups here," Ison said.

An online guest registry is available for the Sluss family at www.gatecityfunerals.com. Call (276) 386-7033 or (877) 469-7513.