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Fallen WWII soldier to be buried in New Bern almost 82 years after his death

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published May 17, 2024 at 7:11 AM EDT
Staff Sergeant Ferris’s remains arrived at Raleigh-Durham airport on Thursday, and he was escorted to Cotten Funeral Home by the Patriot Guard. A U.S. flag honoring Ferris hangs above Highway 70 from the U.S. 17 bypass near New Bern.
Annette Weston
/
Public Radio East
Staff Sergeant Ferris’s remains arrived at Raleigh-Durham airport on Thursday, and he was escorted to Cotten Funeral Home by the Patriot Guard. A U.S. flag honoring Ferris hangs above Highway 70 from the U.S. 17 bypass near New Bern.

A New York man who was killed in action nearly 82 years ago will be laid to rest in eastern North Carolina on Monday.

United States Army Air Force Staff Sergeant Robert L Ferris Jr. was 20-years-old when he killed serving in World War II in France. His remains were identified last September.

United States Army Air Force Staff Sergeant Robert L Ferris Jr. was 20-years-old when he killed serving in World War II in France.
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
United States Army Air Force Staff Sergeant Robert L Ferris Jr. was 20-years-old when he killed serving in World War II in France.

Staff Sergeant Ferris’s body arrived at Raleigh-Durham airport on Thursday, and he was escorted to Cotten Funeral Home by the Patriot Guard. A processioned lined the route in New Bern.

Ferris will be awarded the Purple Heart in a brief ceremony on Sunday at the funeral home, and a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday.

Staff Sergeant Ferris will then be laid to rest at New Bern National Cemetery with full military honors. He has family in eastern North Carolina.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston