BALLWIN, Mo. – Family and friends of Bill Sei, 78, walked by rows of American flags as they entered Schrader Funeral Home & Crematory in Ballwin Thursday night.

Sei, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, was known for his unwavering support for the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight. Friends attending his visitation shared memories of his kindness.

“He loved everybody, and he especially loved veterans,” Jim Pettit, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight community outreach director, said.

During his 11-year tenure as a volunteer with Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, he made phone calls to more than 2,500 veterans to schedule them for their day of honor. 

Greater St. Louis Honor Flight takes World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C., so they can visit the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice.

FOX 2 captured a special moment in 2021 when Sei’s turn arrived to make the trip to Washington, D.C.

“He always had a smile on his face,” Becky Class, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight treasurer and board member, said. “He was very humble, giving, and just a loving individual.”

She said some veterans feel uncomfortable accepting the trip at first. Sei would erase that unease.

“Any way that we can give back to them, it’s deserved,” Class added.

Sei’s efforts to help veterans experience their journey did not end when those trips ended.

“He actually ended up being friends with so many of the veterans,” Pettit said.

Among those paying their respects Thursday night was Michael Beasley, commander of American Legion Post 208 in Manchester.

“You can’t praise Bill enough for the selfless acts that he did, and it wasn’t just Honor Flights,” he said. “It was anything to do with veterans.”