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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A United States Marine Corporal died alone at 77 years old, but fellow veterans and community members made sure he wasn't buried that way.

They may not be related by blood, but nonetheless they're family.

"Tragic and sad event that he had no family, but the community is his family today," said Jim Balcerovich with the Colorado Patriot Guard Riders.

Thursday, he and several veterans made sure Duane Lee Lawerence wasn't buried alone.

"The community came out in force so we asked people to come out with us and we had a great turnout to honor veteran and his service and his life," he said.

Without loved ones nearby, not much is known about Cpl. Lawerence. There isn't even a single picture to remember him by.

But hundreds gathered to salute the man they didn't even know, one man in particular who knows what it feels like to have a community come together.

"As you can imagine the holidays are really tough and to be able to do this and honor someone who is as special as this is quite an honor, it means a lot to me," said John Castillo, who lost his son Kendrick in the STEM School shooting in Highlands Ranch last May.

Thursday he held a flag in his hand for his son who would have wanted to be there.

"If Kendrick had seen this, he would've been the first one here. That's the way he lived his life," he said.

In a family of Marines, the call to action was clear.

"My father was a Marine, Kendrick's grandfather, and we feel it's best to support our military by being a part of ceremonies like this where folks don't have family there for them," Castillo said.

With a gun salute, taps, and hundreds of people, a hero was properly welcomed to his new home at Pike's Peak National Cemetery.

PPNC and the American Legion Post 209 organized the honors for Lawrence.