Re: Plumadore Laid to Rest

Date: June 05, 2004

"A fallen hero is laid to rest

By: Adam Chodak

LANCE CPL. KENNETH PLUMADORE

In 1967, the US military told Patricia Plumadore her only brother had died in Vietnam.

For the past thirty-eight years, Patricia had wanted to find the remains of Lance Corporal Kenneth Plumadore, a Syracuse native.

She wanted to give him a proper military burial.

Then, approximately one year ago, the military confirmed it had found some of Plumadore's remains.

A fallen hero is laid to rest

Saturday, friends and family honored a Syracuse native who disappeared in Vietnam in 1967. Lance Corporal Kenneth Plumadore was laid to rest at Onondaga County's Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

On Saturday, the military carried those remains into the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Full military honors led him into the ground.

Not much could have stopped Patricia Plumadore from seeing her brother buried, but lung cancer did. On Saturday morning, the disease got the best of her and she was sent to the hospital.

Patricia's son, who was named after her brother, spoke on her behalf.

"It's been an honor to be here for our family, an honor to represent and have the name Plumadore. He's always been my hero. He's always been everyone in our family's hero and there's not much I can say except to thank all the veterans and the boys who are in Iraq and everyone who has given their life for this country. It means more to me than anyone can even understand…thank you all.”

Many veterans paid their respects and honored the fallen soldier.

Gordie Lane had been carrying Plumadore's name on his wrist for years, and says the funeral gave him the chance to take it off and let Plumadore rest at last.

"Kenny's death brought an awful lot of old friends here together. We haven't seen each other for years and years and years. They knew Kenny and loved Kenny and that's why they're here. That's the important thing,” he said.

And as Ken's funeral ended just before noon, Patricia Plumadore died - but not without having one of her last desires fulfilled.

In the eyes of many, her brother was home.

©2004 TWEAN News Channel of Syracuse, LLC, d/b/a News 10 Now"