200 people turn out for a funeral for a homeless veteran they didn't know

LEAVENWORTH, KS - Some 200 people came out for a homeless veteran's funeral, most of whom didn't even know the man.

The sound of helicopters overhead, the crack of the rifles, the bugle with the final salute... A farewell to a veteran.

Maryannah Mosley carried close a picture of her friend, Purple Heart recipient Eton Gilmore.

A Vietnam veteran herself, she spends her time feeding the homeless and disabled and Gilmore was one of those people. 

When she found out he died, she had him moved from the Kansas City morgue to a KCK funeral home, then set out to make sure he'd get buried with military honors.

A long line of cars wound its way down the hill, as hundreds of strangers came from Missouri and Kansas.

"Eton would've loved it,” Mosley said. "I had no idea anyone was going to show up."

"I just couldn't believe it. I didn't know that being on the TV with a sad story to begin with, that I'd have all this support. I had no idea."

Annie Gilson, a patriot guard member at the funeral said Gilmore’s service and Mosley’s dedication to honoring him, is admirable.

"It's because she went to the trouble of taking care of a military veteran. Not a lot of people step up and it's important that we do,” Gilson said.

Gilmore's nieces and other family only learned of his death through Mosley’s efforts.

"We've very grateful for that and we appreciate that because if the story was not aired, we would not have known,” Doreah Kares, Gilmore’s niece, said.

"We didn't expect all the veterans. We didn't expect this much love from people. So we're just very appreciative,” Sarah Matthews, another of Gilmore’s nieces, said.

Mosley says Gilmore received a Purple Heart during his time in the army, drove a taxi after his military service, then found himself living in his cab or in abandoned rooms or houses.