Public invited to funeral service for Elgin Vietnam veteran with no family

An Elgin Marine Corps veteran who had no family when he died will be honored during a donated memorial service Tuesday, with the public invited to pay respects.

Lance Cpl. Stephen Alan Myerson, 72, of Elgin, died Sept. 11 at the Citadel Care Center in Elgin.

Myerson was born on Aug. 7, 1948, in Chicago and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970. He earned a National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal with one star.

A memorial honoring his service to his country will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Laird Funeral Home in Elgin.

The funeral home is donating its services since no relatives of Myerson were found. "As a business in our community, when something like this happens where there is no one else, we're just happy we're able to provide dignified services that are well deserving of a Marine who served his country," said Corey Short of Laird.

Short said COVID-19 protocols are in place to help ensure the safest possible services. People will be allowed inside to pay their respects during the visitation and then will file out to limit the number of people in the building at one time.

A burial with honors will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.