In a heartfelt display of community spirit, residents of Marana, Arizona, gathered in large numbers to honor a Vietnam War veteran who passed away without any known family. The Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery became a place of remembrance for Darrell Lee Arelt, a 73-year-old Army second lieutenant, who succumbed to a brief illness in November.
Nick De Gennaro, who owns the mobile home park where Arelt had lived for over four years, took the initiative to organize the memorial service. Discovering that Arelt had no relatives to arrange his funeral, De Gennaro and his wife stepped up to ensure he received a dignified farewell. “He was a very nice guy, and unfortunately, we didn’t know him all that long,” De Gennaro shared with 13 News in Tucson. “But, you know, I think anyone who would be in a situation like that deserves to be cared for in that way, and remembered in that way, and that’s all we’re trying to do.”
Community Response to a Call for Honor
When De Gennaro shared Arelt’s story, the response was overwhelming. “Originally, we were thinking it would be just myself and my wife,” he explained. “But now, there’s going to be many people there. And that’s going to be a wonderful thing.” Thanks to the efforts of local veterans’ groups and supportive citizens, the ceremony transformed from a small gathering into a significant event attended by hundreds.
De Gennaro expressed regret over not locating any of Arelt’s relatives but ensured that Arelt was properly interred at the veterans cemetery. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find anyone that he was in contact with recently, or anyone who fit that bill. We did find out, though, that he’s a veteran, and we knew that it was a possibility that he could be placed here,” De Gennaro said.
Veterans and Community Unite
Arelt’s story reached many through social media and local news, prompting a surge of support from Arizona’s veterans. Gable Cundiff, Commander of the CVMA Chapter, shared Arelt’s situation widely, which led to substantial attendance at the funeral. “I took that information and sent it to every combat vets chapter in the state of Arizona,” Cundiff stated. “I sent it to the patriot guard and got the word out.”
The funeral service honored Arelt with full military rites, including a color guard, “Taps,” and a 21-gun salute. Rich Havens, a local veteran, highlighted the strength of community support, saying, “This type of situation shows what Marana, Oro Valley, and Southern Arizona are all about.”
Following the service, De Gennaro received the ceremonial folded flag, traditionally given to family members of the deceased. He hopes someone close to Arelt will eventually come forward to claim it. “Whether it’s a week or a month or a year from now, they can contact us and say, ‘Hey, we knew Darrell,’” De Gennaro mentioned.
