British World War II veteran Harold Jellicoe “Coe” Percival died last month at the age of 99. According to his obituary, he had no close friends or family to attend his funeral services.
That's when the Internet got involved.
A photo of Percival's obit went viral on social media, followed by a Facebook plea from former veteran Sgt. Rick Clement, who implored other servicemen to honor Percival's memory by attending the funeral. Local newspaper The Blackpool Gazette accelerated the coverage with a touching story on Percival.
The viral image eventually prompted more than 300 people to assemble at Percival's funeral on Monday -- Veteran's Day and Britain's Remembrance Day -- to pay their final respects to a stranger.
Several people tweeted images of the crowds gathered in the rain at Lytham Park Crematorium for the former RAF Bomber Command member.
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Faith in humanity, and the Internet, restored.
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