Honoring a Civil War veteran who was lost to history

Curious about her family's history, journalist Cheryl Wills began researching her ancestry, and found she was related to Sandy Wills, a former slave who served in the Civil War with the United States Colored Troops. Her search also led her to a distant relative, a former plantation, and ultimately to Private Wills' remains, which have now been laid to rest - with full military honors - at a veterans cemetery in Memphis. CBS News' Bill Whitaker reports.

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[mattwills]

Thank you all for the wonderful comments! I’m the 3x Great Grandson of Private Sandy Wills and I will tell you this was the most rewarding experience I have ever had to pleasure to be apart of.

[mrboatshoe]

Shout out to that family for never touching that burial ground. What a lovely story

[mikedixon]

First, to Sandy Wills, Thank you for your service! To his descendants, Thank you for sharing his story. To the Moore family, Thank you for your decency in preserving the burial ground.

[VirginiaPrepper]

As a Moore from WV I am proud to see that our distant family preserved the cemetery of those who were forgotten. I also hope the other 37 people in that cemetery will also be reunited with their families and have a proper burial. To Sandi Wills thank you sir for your service to our country and for your sacrifice.

[LarryMan]

God bless the Moore family for preserving this land, as a black American and a Navy veteran I thank you from my heart, God bless you all.

[michaelvaladez]

This is an incredible story...May he rest in peace..and his family find peace as well !!!!

[dragon_ninja_]

RIP Sandy Wills. Thank you for your service. And thanks to the Moore family too.

[CFGossettAbbasHealingArts]

Thank you, Mr Wills, for your service. If not for men like you, we wouldn't be able to see the freedoms we have now. Such an incredible and heart warming story.

[idanoe]

Brought tears to my eyes. Rest in Honor and Peace 🇺🇸

[Gabster]

We don't do enough to preserve graveyards. Thank you to the moore family for not destroying it.

[SeanMcReynolds]

I saw this story yesterday and I don’t know why but there was something so moving about the pallbearers carrying Sandy Wills' casket through Mooreland's fields.

[mrfester]

When I saw Cheryl Wills placing Sandi Wills remains into the casket and then saw the funeral procession through the farm field the tears welled up and I was choked up. The tears started and I felt all flushed seeing this happen. I don't know these people but what I do know is that we're all Americans and we have Sandi Wills and others like him who stepped up and payed the ultimate price that we might be free to thank for all that.
It reinforces my hope for this country that there are people like the Moores who chose to leave that burial ground untouched. We all are richer for it.
I am a middle aged white man and I agree with Morgan Freeman when he said that Black History is American History.

[jocopeland]

Ms. Moore, you touched my heart, you and your family protected an African American burial ground back then is unheard of, you and your family gives others hope that there is still good on God's land. To Sandy Will's and family "thank you for your service." Great story CBS.

[ShirleyPotts-udnb]

Happy Veterans Day. Our heroes are very special

[e.]

🙏🙏 I needed to hear this wonderful story of loving humanity. Thank you ❤️

[charleneandrle-olson]

So "glad" for Private Sandy Wills' family, that he was found. Thanking this vet posthumously for his service. Finally recognized! So many weren't in our wars, particularly the Civil War. RIP.

[Lael]

Thank you for your service Sandy Wills. Thank you.

[kdplain]

Beautiful story. Gives me more faith in our country which I really need at this time. 🇺🇸💕

[NJDVLS]

Excellent story. I'm glad he got the honors that he deserved. Thank you for all that served in the Wills family.

[horseygurl]

Literally one of the greatest stories ever told, causing tears of joy to flow!!!
Thank you to Sandy Wills for serving. And to all those many who kept his spirit alive for all of us to get a chance to know about!!!