The power of social media could help return the remains of a veteran to his family.
The ashes of James Taylor, born May 7,1923 and died June 27, 2012 in Dearborn, were found in a storage unit at Simply Self Storage in Taylor.
The manager of the unit contacted Jeff Kerekes, who is an administrator for the Downriver & Friends Facebook group.
“She called and asked me if I would post it, to try and get some help,” said Kerekes.
He said right away he got some help from a couple of dedicated women, one started doing research and knocking on doors, the other works at a funeral home and found a cemetery that will take James Taylor’s ashes, even if his family doesn’t come forward.
Kerekes is hopeful they will.
"James actually was a veteran and we haven't been able to find his family,” said Kerekes. "We don't know in the meantime what happened to his wife or the rest of his family so it's a shame.”
Kerekes said the Great Lakes Cemetery will likely take Taylor’s remains and that small step is all thanks to the hard work of his friends from Downriver & Friends.
"The Facebook group Downriver & Friends is just awesome and they even surprised me this time, they were all over this."
He said they are all starting to get attached to James Taylor and they want to know his story.
"It's like we all know him now. James,” said Kerekes. "You'd like to hear the story about him cause he could be a well decorated vet you don't know, we don't have any stories.”
You can check out the Downriver & Friends Facebook group here.
