Marine First Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor after he was killed on Nov. 22, 1943 in the battle of Tarawa, will be honored in public burial events Sept. 25-27.

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. Clay Bonnyman Evans, the grandson of Lt. Bonnyman, was on hand during the discovery. Learn more at WBIR.com. and NYDailyNews.com.

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.

A bridge over the Tennessee River on the Pellissippi Parkway was named after Lt. Alexander "Sandy" Bonnyman in 1997. The U.S. Navy also honored Bonnyman's sacrifice in 1985 by naming one of its ships the USNS 1st LT Alex Bonnyman (T-AK-3003).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY

11:18 a.m.: Arrival at McGhee Tyson Airport, beginning of processional to
Berry Highland
Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike

SATURDAY

2:30-3:00 p.m.: Memorial service and wreath laying
East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, World’s Fair Park

3:00-6:00 p.m.: Public visitation of casketed remains
East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, World’s Fair Park

SUNDAY

12:00 p.m.: Remains transferred from chapel to horse-drawn caisson
Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, processional to gravesite

12:30 p.m.: Flyover of military aircraft

1:00-1:30 p.m.: Funeral service with full military honors