ULYSSES — After more than six decades of not knowing the fate of their loved one, there is now closure for the family of Army Cpl. William Sadewasser, who grew up in Ulysses and was killed in the Korean War and listed as missing in action.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency contacted his family in April reporting that his remains were identified through DNA testing on March 17.

Sadewasser was buried with full military honors in a solemn and dignified funeral at the Ulysses Cemetery Saturday.

Cpl. Sadewasser’s remains were found during the 32nd Joint Recovery Operation in 2004, when teams collected the remains of at least 11 individuals on the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir on Hill 1221 in North Korea. The remains were transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency contacted Charles Sadewasser and an aunt, Virginia Sadewasser in 2004, and both gave DNA samples. Unfortunately, both died — Virginia in 2011 and Charles in 2012 — before the family learned that William’s remains were identified.

At the Saturday service, members of the Patriot Guard Riders escorted the hearse from the Thomas Burger Funeral Home in Hilton, N.Y., to the cemetery. Patriot Guard Riders from Pennsylvania joined the escorts at Scio, N.Y., and continued to the cemetery.

Six members of the New York National Guard Honor Guard from Rochester — an all-volunteer group — removed the flag-draped casket from the hearse and proceeded past two lines of members of the Potter County Honor Guard, comprised of representatives of all the county’s American Legion posts.

“Today is a good day because one who was once lost is now found, and William, who had been missing for so many years has finally come home to be laid to rest,” said the Rev. Marty Zdrojewski, pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Ulysses, at the committal service.

The firing party, also from the New York National Guard, shot three volleys; spent shells were later given to family members. A bugler from the same unit then played Taps.

Several members of the New York National Guard Honor Guard carefully folded the American flag that draped the casket into the traditional tri-cornered shape, with 13 folds representing the 13 original colonies. Staff Sgt. Ronald Thomas, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the New York National Guard Honor Guard, presented the flag to Sadewasser’s sister-in-law, Rita Sadewasser.

“On behalf of the President of the United States and the United States Army and a grateful nation,” he recited as he passed the flag along, “please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”

Members of the Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Veterans Motorcycle Club from New York attended the funeral and presented Sadewasser’s family with a large Killed in Action flag, plaque and baseball-style military cap.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., who was unable to attend the funeral, sent a letter of condolences which was read by Jim Brennan, second vice-commander of the American Legion Post No. 963 in Ulysses. Thompson praised Sadewasser for his “courage, faith, sacrifice, hardships and love of nation that will never be forgotten.”

Others in attendance at the funeral were the American Eagles Motorcycle Club, Ulysses; Potter County Commissioner Paul Heimel, representing the Potter County Veterans Service Committee; Sgt. Joe Maloney, casualties assistant, New York Army National Guard; and Carl Hyde Unit, American Legion Auxiliary, Ulysses.

In his brief remarks on behalf of the Sadewasser family, Jim Aiello of the Thomas Burger Funeral Home thanked the Sadewasser family, American Legion, Patriot Guards, Sgt. Maloney and the U. S. military for help in planning the funeral, as well as the Olney Funeral Home.

Sadewasser was born on May 6, 1926, in Wellsville, N.Y. His family eventually moved to his grandparent’s farm in Ulysses, and he attended school in both towns.

A World War II veteran, Sadewasser served with the Army from 1944 to 1947.

He re-enlisted during the Korean War and was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, when he was deployed to the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. According to an eyewitness account, he was attempting to repair a radio when he was killed in action on Nov. 28, 1950. He was reported missing in action that same day.