Volunteers accompany local veteran to burial at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery

LORAIN — Howard Hilliard Jr., 78, died earlier this month. He outlived his wife of 44 years, Cheryl, by several years and had no other friends or family in the area. But that does not mean he left this world alone. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran was buried in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman with full military honors, his wife's ashes by his side. And alongside the casket, from Andras Funeral Home in Lorain to the graveside service in Rittman, were members of the Ohio Patriot Guard Riders and other local motorcycle groups, paying their respects to a man they had never met. As Hilliard's health declined, he could not make his own legal decisions, including his move into hospice. Octavia Maynard, founder of Beyond Guardianship Services, was appointed Hilliard's emergency legal guardian by Lorain County Probate Court Judge Jim Walther shortly before Hilliard's death. "We make sure every funeral is attended," Maynard said of her services. "The big focus on the little extras for quality-of-life improvement instead of just clinically doing your job." Maynard makes sure her wards have Christmas presents, funds for headstones or grave markers, and rallies the community to provide shoes or clothes to her clients in need. Last week, after Hilliard's death, Maynard put out a call on Facebook for riders to escort the veteran to his final resting place at Medina County cemebtery. The Ohio Patriot Guard answered. Mike Schrull, District 3 captain, said attending Hilliard's service was an honor. "At the end of the mission, when I release everyone, I tell them 'You could have been anywhere, but you were here,'" Schrull said of attending another veteran's services. Schrull served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970, but his own military service is not why he accompanies Hilliard and others' burials. Years ago, the Ohio Patriot Guard came to Schrull's father's funeral, he said. "Ever since then I've been paying it back," he said. The Ohio Patriot Guard's services are open to any military veteran or safety service member. Hilliard served in the Navy from 1966 to 1970 and in the Air Force until 1973. As a naval sergeant, he was an electrical repairman on the USS Courtney. In the Air Force, Hilliard was trained as a specialist in electrical power generation and control systems. He received the National Defense medal, the Good Conduct medal and Air and Space Outstanding Unit award during his service. Maynard and others who accompanied Hilliard's remains to the cemetery met an unexpected surprise on arrival: the man's brother, Doug, from western Pennsylvania. Originally, Maynard thought the only living relative Hilliard had was an elderly cousin out of state. "(Doug Hilliard) was overwhelmed and very thankful to the riders for going," Maynard said. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com