June 13 (UPI) --After living a life of secrecy, a decorated Vietnam veteran came out as gay in his obituary. Army Col. Edward Thomas Ryan of New York, who recently lost a battle with intestinal ...

He died June 1, 2024, at age 85, and used his obituary to announce publicly for the first time that he was a gay man.</p> Edward Thomas Ryan was 85 when he died on June 1 in Albany, New York.

85-year-old veteran comes out as gay in viral obituary <p>A portrait of Edward Ryan of Albany, a retired U.S. Army colonel, chosen by Ryan to accompany his obituary.

In the last lines of his obituary written in his own words, Ryan says, "I'm sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay. … Now that my secret is known, I'll forever Rest in Peace." ...

Edward Thomas Ryan was 85 when he died on June 1 in Albany, New York. Retired from a career in service — as a U.S. Army colonel, in his community's fire department, American Legion, VFW, Knights ...

85-year-old veteran comes out as gay in viral obituary <p>A portrait of Edward Ryan of Albany, a retired U.S. Army colonel, chosen by Ryan to accompany his obituary.