A military honor guard draped a flag over the coffin of Don Clair Freeman during a service at Arlington National Cemetery held April 13. Dons wife, Betsy was there, as were her daughters, Tracey and Claire, their families and many of their friends.
Tryon friends joining the Freemans for the service were Merry Richon, Julie and Bob Precourt and Warren Watson. “Needless to say, it was a momentous occasion for us all. We had a reception at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington after the service which was very fitting,” Betsy Freeman said.
Don Clair Freeman was Army PFC Infantry, 4th armored division under General George S. Patton in WWII from 1942 to 1945. He received the Purple Heart for a wound received in Ardennes Forest in Germany. He was a heavy machine gunner in the Rhineland Campaign and Central Europe.
“Don was lucky to join one of the Honor Air trips to Washington to visit the WWII Memorial with the Jeff Miller group in 2007,” she said. “Our daughter, Tracey, lives in D.C., so she was able to join her Dad and the Honor Air group for their tour that entire day. Don had a really good send off! He had a 21 gun salute and taps by a group of impressive Marines. It makes us feel very fortunate to be Americans, who honor and appreciate their servicemen.”
Tracey Freeman, a Tryon High School Class of 80 graduate, and her husband are planning to retire in Tryon.