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JACKSONVILLE, MO. -- A Missouri World War I veteran finally has been laid to rest with military honors after more than eight decades.

Sergeant Donald Wylie served a tour in the United State Army before joining up with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in 1917.

Even though he died back in 1928, Sergeant Donald Wylie was honored as a hero Monday in the presence of fellow service men and women at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Honors included those from the Patriot Guard Riders and other veteran groups to formally escort Sergeant Wylie to his final resting place.

Larry Page with the Patriot Guard Riders said, "This man, even though we've never met him, is a fallen brother."

But perhaps, the most extraordinary part of this story is how Sergeant Wylie's remains were found and identified after being forgotten for eighty years.

His cremated remains were found unclaimed in a St. Louis funeral home several years ago. That's when officials with the Missing in America Project took notice. It's a group that researches and helps provide military rites for missing or unidentified veterans all over the country. The organization looked into Wylie's past and learned he not only served this country in the army...but also our neighbors to the North during the first World War.

Linda Smith with the Missing in America Project said, "I discovered he was a Canadian veteran, and so I was able to dig through the internet and find his enlistment papers in the Canadian Military."

That research led to proof of Sergeant Wylie's honorable discharge and to his burial with military honors.

Page said, "It's an honor and a privilege because this man has been so long without recognition and without honors due him."

Folks here say Sergeant Wylie has finally come home. And now after being lost and forgotten for more than eight decades, his memory is now immortalized in stone amongst his fallen comrades.

After being honorably discharged from the Canadian military, Wylie worked as journalist and eventually moved to Missouri.

Interestingly enough, Wylie's remains were found along with the ashes of 99 other people in St. Louis. So far the Missing in America Project has verified nine of them as veterans and buried them with honors.