KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The family of 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnymarn, Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor after he was killed on Nov. 22, 1943 in the battle of Tarawa, has scheduled three three public events in conjunction with his burial in Knoxville, Tenn. Sept. 25-27.
Please see a detailed schedule at the end of this release.
The location of Lt. Bonnyman’s remains, along with those of hundreds of other Marines, was lost after they were buried on Tarawa following the fighting. An archaeological team from History Flight, Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit, recovered the remains of dozens of missing Marines between March and June, including those of Bonnyman.
Bonnyman, son of Alexander Bonnyman Sr., the late president of the Blue Diamond Coal Co., and Frances Berry Bonnyman, was born May 2, 1910 in Atlanta. He was raised in Knoxville and attended Princeton University. He was living in Santa Fe, New Mexico and operating a copper mine near Santa Rosa when he joined the Marine Corps Reserve in July 1942.
PUBLIC EVENTS
Procession from McGhee Tyson Airport to Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery
Date: Friday, Sept. 25
Time: Lt. Bonnyman’s casketed remains are scheduled to arrive at 11:20 a.m. at McGhee-Tyson Airport.
Location: McGhee-Tyson Airport to funeral home via Alcoa Highway and Kingston Pike
Details:
- Dignified transfer of remains with family and VIPs on tarmac
- Marine and funeral vehicles depart airport
- Volunteers from Patriot Riders and other veteran motorcycle groups will fall in outside airport.
- Knox County sheriff/Knoxville police will enforce rolling traffic blockade
Lt. Bonnyman’s casketed remains lying in honor and memorial
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
Time: 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Location: East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial, World’s Fair Park, Knoxville
Details:
- Memorial service and wreath laying: 2:30-3 p.m.
- 3 p.m.-6 p.m. – Public visitation of casketed remains; Medal of Honor, citation, photos on display
Funeral service and burial with full military honors
Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
Time: noon to 1 or 1:30 p.m. (estimated)
Location: Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville (map)
Details:
- Noon – remains transferred from chapel to horse-drawn caisson
- Noon-12:30 (estimated) – Marines, family, and caisson proceed to gravesite
- 12:30 (estimated) – Flyover of military aircraft
- 1-1:30 p.m. (estimated) – Funeral service, including ecumenical religious service and full military honors.
Parking
- Public parking and shuttle service at funeral home and adjacent businesses
- Shuttles stop running at 11:45
- No vehicle traffic allowed in cemetery except for family and VIPs
