On Friday, July 26 at around 11 a.m., Sgt. White Goings Jr. was laid to rest in Glenrock Cemetery. The ceremony was officiated by Major Zachary Brueningsen, and Goings’ five great-nieces, as well as many members of the community and military personnel, were in attendance to honor the fallen soldier. Goings, who passed away in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp in July 1942, was only 23 years old. Now, 82 years after his passing, his ashes were interred next to his family’s.
The service was honored by members of the Auburn American Legion Post 23, the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard and the Fallen Soldier Riders. Goings’ surviving family was also incredibly pleased with the amount of community members who joined them in seeing Goings to rest, as well as the military personnel who traveled from places as far as Little Rock, Ark. to pay their respects. A flyover was performed with a H-47 Chinook helicopter, and the American Legion gave the military honors with their rifles.
The entire service was organized by Casualty Assistant Officer SFC Justin Eickmeier, whom Goings’ family wishes to give deep thanks for his efforts in getting in contact with each entity and setting everything up. Mary Biere, one of the five great nieces in attendance, explained that the memorial flag presented to Sharron Wilson will be given to the American Legion to be attached to an engraved flagpole, so to honor Sgt. Goings. The medals awarded to Goings will be held onto and brought out for events such as family reunions. “We [Goings’ family] are very grateful for everything Casualty Assistant Officer SFC Eickmeier did to make this happen,” Biere said, “and we are incredibly pleased with how many members of the community attended, despite the heat. It means so much to see such honor and respect from the community, and we want to thank everyone for attending.”
