Homeless Vet Dies With No Friends Or Family To Give Him A Proper Burial. Then A Group Of High School Seniors Step In To Help

When John T. Fitzmaurice died on November 6, the 68-year-old Chelsea veteran had no family left to claim his body and give him a proper funeral.

But that all changed when a group of teenage boys from Catholic Memorial in Boston learned that Fitzmaurice, who was homeless at the time of his death, no longer had any living relatives to give him the send-off he deserved.

According to CBS Boston, Catholic Memorial held a beautiful mass in honor of Fitzmaurice before he was buried.

When Fitzmaurice was finally buried, he was ultimately given full military honors, and most of the students at Catholic Memorial made sure to attend his funeral.

Angela Rowlings/Boston Herald

“We have a lot of veterans in my family so I know the sacrifice he made for the country and I know the service he committed in the years he committed to serving our country,” senior class president Will Padden explained CBS Boston.

In addition to being buried in a flag-covered basket, Fitzmaurice was given an incredible eulogy from Rev. Chris Palladino, who volunteered his services the moment he heard what the school was doing for the homeless veteran.

“For us paying homage to a veteran, to bring him to our campus, to provide the burial rights he deserves, and to honor his legacy and to help our boys realize we have to stand with those who are marginalized,” said the school’s president, Peter Folan.

While the students didn’t know much about Fitzmaurice when they first decided to hold a funeral for him, they say they’ve learned a lot about themselves since the life-changing experience.

Angela Rowlings/Boston Herald

“John in this case needed a family and we were there to be John’s family,” said Padden.

After this heartbreaking story was shared on Facebook, dozens of commenters praised the boys for stepping up to the plate when they heard about the homeless veteran’s story.

“Those kids are more grown up than most I see today. That takes a whole new kind of heart that all are capable of but few display these days. Either way I'm proud of them and humbled that they took up the cause of honoring our fallen brother in arms. Yet another example of RETREAT HELL!!! Semper Fidelis. Semper Familea,” one man commented.

“Great kids and great parenting . No veteran should EVER be homeless. I work with them everyday and the stories are heartbreaking. God bless these kids for their compassion,” another reader added.

Angela Rowlings/Boston Herald

“This breaks my heart, and I cant stop the tears for this man and the boys. Publicity or not, NO ONE, should be on the streets to die alone, especially a Veteran in the US today. No excuses for that in the richest country in the world. Good on you boys,” one commenter also wrote.

While most readers agree that Fitzmaurice’s death is devastating, what these high school students did to honor him proves that there are still compassionate people in the world.

“Thank God for these amazing young men. And yes I agree our veterans should never be homeless. RIP John. Thank you for your service,” one commenter wrote.