Lowering flags throughout Wisconsin as a mark of respect for a WWII veteran from Shawano.
Hero of Pearl Harbor Laid to Rest in Shawano
U.S. Army Air Forces Private Herbert E. McLaughlin, a Wisconsin World War II veteran who lost his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor, was laid to rest on Saturday, August 9, 2025, in his hometown of Shawano.
The burial ceremony took place at Woodlawn Cemetery, with McLaughlin being laid to rest beside his mother. The solemn occasion was marked by flags flying at half-staff from sunrise until sunset, as ordered by Governor Tony Evers.
McLaughlin's remains were identified through DNA testing in December 2024, over 80 years after he was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He had originally been buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery) in Hawaii as unidentified remains. The return of his remains to Shawano marked the completion of a multi-decade effort to bring him home.
Governor Evers expressed his gratitude for McLaughlin's service, stating, "Private McLaughlin gave his life defending the values and freedoms we hold most dear." He added, "It is our responsibility to make sure every hero receives the recognition they deserve."
The burial ceremony included a full military ceremony, with a riderless horse, honor guard, the playing of Taps, and the presentation of the American flag to McLaughlin's family. The flags in Wisconsin and the U.S. were also flying at half-staff during the ceremony.
McLaughlin's remains were exhumed in 2019, and the burial ceremony on Saturday marked the final step in bringing him home to his family and community. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and he will always be remembered as a hero of Pearl Harbor.
[1] Pearl Harbor hero finally laid to rest in Wisconsin
[2] Wisconsin World War II veteran finally laid to rest after attack on Pearl Harbor
[3] Pearl Harbor hero's remains identified and to be returned to Wisconsin
[4] Wisconsin's Pearl Harbor hero to be laid to rest with full military ceremony
[5] Wisconsin World War II veteran identified after 80 years
[1] War-and-conflicts in World War II: A Wisconsin veteran, who lost his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor, was finally laid to rest in his hometown after 80 years, embroiling politics in an effort to bring him home.
[2] Politics and general news: Governor Tony Evers ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of a Wisconsin World War II veteran, who gave his life during Pearl Harbor, during a solemn ceremony to lay him to rest in his hometown.
