A funeral was held in England on Saturday to Captain Sir Tom Moore, a World War II veteran who became a hero in the coronavirus pandemic.
A Royal Air Force flyby, which is usually reserved for royalty, heads of state and war heroes, was performed for the 100-year-old man, who died earlier this month after a positive test for coronavirus. His coffin was also covered with a Union Jack and was carried by members of the Armed Forces.
The private service was attended by Moore’s immediate relatives and was broadcast online. Remembering his father, Lucy Teixeira, Moore’s daughter talked about her youthful charm, her sense of humor and the impact she left behind.
“Daddy, I’m so proud of you,” she said, “What you’ve accomplished in your entire life and especially in the last year. You may be gone, but your message and your spirit are still alive.”
Moore became something of a war hero in the last year of his life. He won the hearts of millions around the world in 2020, when he went 100 rounds in his backyard to raise money for Britain’s National Health Service.
He initially planned to raise 1,000 pounds (about $ 1,300), but ended up raising more than 33 million pounds (more than $ 40 million) after videos of his hikes went viral, reaching millions who were at home during the first wave of the pandemic.
His fundraising efforts have earned him fame, admiration and a Gentleman by Queen Elizabeth in July.
Moore spoke with CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata last September about a seven-digit film contract he signed with his daughter to make a film of his life, although he said he was not ready yet. to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Whatever the outcome, I don’t foresee ever coming to America and putting my hands on a wet piece of concrete somewhere,” said Moore.
This was one of the few moments that Moore did not live to see. In an epilogue to his book, writing about his inevitable death, Captain Tom wrote “life will go on, babies will be born and people will end up forgetting Captain Tom”.
But Moore added for a time, however, that he would be remembered for the last years of his life, and not for the ones that happened before. He said he just wanted a small white headstone to mark his existence, in his words: nothing too sophisticated.