It’s really sad to see our veterans being neglected and forgotten. There are countless cases of veterans who sacrificed their time with their loved ones and their lives to fight for the country, but ended up being forgotten by the nation.
One such veteran is John T. Fitzmaurice. John fought with the US Army in the Vietnam War and died aged 68. But what makes his story even sadder is that he was a homeless veteran who had no living family or friends when he died in Boston. Knowing that John has no one to honor, the students of Memorial Catholic High School decide to take action.
First Class Chairman Will Baden told CBS Boston:
“We have a lot of veterans in my family, so I know the sacrifices he made for the country and I know the service he gave over the years he was committed to serving our country. “
John’s final burial place was at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. He was buried in full liturgy in the local church.
A group of juniors and seniors served as pallbearers, but there were many other people present to pay their respects.
The group of boys carried out their duties with pride and dignity, being part of the family of a US Army veteran who died at the age of 68 and who seemed to have none.
In total, spokesman Marcus Miller estimates around 40 people gathered at the church to bid farewell to Fitzmaurice.
Although the students didn’t know much about John or his life, they felt it was their responsibility to make sure he said goodbye to an American veteran.
Baden explained:
“John in this case needed a family and we were there to be the John family.”
John was buried with full military honors.
Although he had no relatives to turn to at the end of his life, he was surrounded by the love and support of the students of the Catholic Memorial.
