As covered by RedState’s Thomas LaDuke Saturday, when Vietnam Air Force veteran Joseph Walker passed away recently, the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery failed to located any next of kin. Subsequently, the organization asked the public to attend his funeral, giving the man a respectful send-off and a final Thank You for his service.

On Facebook, the CTSVC made clear they “do NOT leave veterans behind.”

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The media got behind the effort for the 1964-68 serviceman, who would be laid to rest with full military honors:

Texans won't let this happen… https://t.co/IPcOcszpqJ — Janet Shamlian (@JanetShamlian) January 27, 2019

ATTN TEXANS No one is expected to attend the funeral for Joseph Walker, who served in the US Air Force 1964-1968. His funeral will take place Monday at 10 a.m. at the Central Texas State Cemetery. 11463 SH 195

Killeen, Texas 76542 https://t.co/9J29luwDQC via @KVUE — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 27, 2019

No one is expected at the funeral of Air Force Veteran Joseph Walker. Honoring his life is the least we can do. If you're in the Austin area Monday morning, I hope you can make it. Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery

11463 State Highway 195

Killeen, TXhttps://t.co/4VoDocYyGw — Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly) January 28, 2019

So how’d it go? Well, as the saying proffers, they do everything bigger in Texas.

Killeen, Texas: A line of cars stretching for miles to attend the funeral of an Air Force Veteran with no family.. after fears he would be buried with no one attending. pic.twitter.com/IC5z7IlDjh — Janet Shamlian (@JanetShamlian) January 28, 2019

Thank you to the Wind Therapy Freedom Riders that have gathered to ride to #AirForce #Veteran Joseph Walker’s funeral this morning. Mr. Walker was expected to be buried without family or friends present, but the community has stepped up and will be with him as he’s laid to rest. pic.twitter.com/xT3WEqZTrJ — Judge Carter (@JudgeCarter) January 28, 2019

Incredible turnout at @usairforce veteran Joseph Walker’s funeral this morning in Killeen. Central Texas is awesome. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/qgNeukR8nw — US Attorney John Bash (@USAttyBash) January 28, 2019

Today I attended the funeral of Air Force Veteran Joseph Walker. With no family or friends his funeral was expected to have no visitors. Instead, thousands of Texans came to pay their respects. #txlege pic.twitter.com/iXjvNTlrfk — Giovanni Capriglione (@VoteGiovanni) January 28, 2019

“No veteran should be buried alone.” After the funeral home of #AirForce veteran Joseph Walker feared no one would attend his burial because they could not get in touch with family or friends, the central #Texas and military communities came out in full force to honor him. 🙏🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/3RNNYFbfw4 — Paul B. Livengood II (@IamLivengood) January 28, 2019

To hear many on the Left describe the U.S. — a country that “was never great to begin with” (here and here) — one might expect apathy if not disdain in response to a call for the honoring of a stranger — particularly one who shouldered a weapon when he was called to do so. But as Texas reminded us all, America cares. It cares about patriotism; it cares about veterans; it cares about its citizens — native-born and immigrants. The far Left seems intent upon convincing us that “immigrants” is the term aptly applied to those who are the antithesis of the concept: people who wish to sneak in, rather than to immigrate. Therefore, we’re supposed to believe that, by nature of citizens’ desire for actual immigration to occur, the populace is full of hate. On Monday in Killeen Texas, a long line for an honored man — who is black, by the way — provided an anecdotal yet notable message: Americans aren’t full of hate. Some on the Left may be full of something, but I’ll let you decide what that is.

-Alex

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