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OGDEN -- Even though she's known for a few months this day was coming, Kim Padelsky still doesn't believe it.
"I'm just shocked, completely overwhelmed," she said. "It's just so nice to see such a show of patriotism and respect for our military people."
Saturday afternoon, Army Lt. Jack Jay Saunders of Clearfield was laid to rest. He died 60 years ago during the Korean War, but it wasn't until recently his remains were positively identified.
It's just so nice to see such a show of patriotism and respect for our military people.
–Kim Padelsky
"My mom would have been proud. Just having him home off of foreign soil is a great relief," said Padelsky.
She is Saunders' only daughter and was just three years old when he was captured -- and later died -- during the Korean War. For all these years, his story was a mystery to the entire family.
"All my life, I heard about my great-grandpa being a (prisoner of war)," said Shay Peck. "I had no idea what that meant until the last few years."
Peck says she wishes she could have met her great-grandfather. "I've never been more proud of him," she said.
Saturday's funeral was held at the Leavitt's Mortuary & Aultorest Memorial Park in Ogden. It was a full military funeral, complete with a 21-gun salute, honor guard and American flag for the family.
More than 300 people attended, including the Patriot Guard Riders and other military support groups who had never met him.
When we bring one home, it's always a huge thing for us. Our mission as an organization is to keep bringing them home and keep them in people's minds that they need to come home.
–Kurt Falkner
"It doesn't matter. He's an American hero. He's a military veteran," said Ken Donaghy of the Utah Patriot Guard Riders.
"When we bring one home, it's always a huge thing for us," said Kurt Falkner of the POW/MIA Awareness Organization of Utah. "Our mission as an organization is to keep bringing them home and keep them in people's minds that they need to come home."
The family got the phone call this past October that Saunders' remains had been positively identified. The very next month his wife, LaRelle, passed away -- but not before she knew her husband was finally coming home.
Now, they're buried next to each other.
"They're together. It's closest they've been in all those years. We're happy about that," said Padelsky.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
