Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Thursday that her oldest brother had succumbed to coronavirus in Oklahoma.
Donald Reed Herring, 86, passed away on Tuesday from the novel coronavirus. He was a career Air Force veteran who joined at 19 and served in Vietnam.
While continued concerns about the spread of coronavirus kept family from gathering as they might normally do, Warren offered her eulogy on Twitter. (RELATED: Patriots Democratic Primary Update: The Endorsements Of Last Resort)
“My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader,” she began.
My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader. https://t.co/b8m0xKzAmM
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
The former presidential hopeful shared one of her own photos of her oldest brother, adding, “What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him.”
What made him extra special was his smile—quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him. pic.twitter.com/SFMOaBVCN3
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020
Warren concluded with heartfelt thanks for the medical professionals who had cared for her brother in his final days, noting the same concerns that many who have lost loved ones to coronavirus and its complications have in recent weeks — that family couldn’t be with him in those last hours, couldn’t say their goodbyes in person, and would be denied the chance to gather and mourn his loss as a family.
“I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say ‘I love you’ one more time—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I’ll miss you dearly my brother,” she said.
I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say “I love you” one more time—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I’ll miss you dearly my brother. pic.twitter.com/oOG6HArEL6
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020