Veterans laid to rest.

I remember when I first enlisted in the Marine Corps; Upon arriving at an airport in my uniform I was often spit upon and abused as a "baby killer", "murderer", "facist" and the like. Why? Hate. Unfortunately, the legacy which existed then continues in a small way. Here is a list of veterans who were abandoned, forgotton, homeless... Who most likely died alone, in any event their bodies were never claimed, until they were buried with dignity. Thanks to U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, and Rep. Steve Israel, D–Huntington, for their tributes to these warriors.

Anderson Alston – U.S. Army Master Sergeant Anderson Alston was a combat veteran in WWII. He joined the US Army in August 1943 and was honorably discharged on March 1946.

Rafael Arroya – Private First Class Rafael Arroya joined the US Army in August 1959 and was honorably discharged in July 1971.

Barry Carl Brooks – Veteran Barry Carl Brooks joined the US Air Force in August 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1969. His rank is unknown.

John Cronin – Sr. Airman John Cronin joined the US Air Force in August 1955 and was honorably discharged in May 1958.

Donald Degault – Private Donald DeGault was a sharpshooter in the US Army. He joined the US Army in April 1963 and was honorably discharged in December 1965.

Nichols Ernest – Private Nichols Ernest joined the US Army in August 1953 and was honorably discharged in August 1956.

Clifford Henry – Petty Officer Second Class Clifford Henry was a Medical Field Service Technician in the US Navy, as well as a Small Arms Marksman.

Henry Hightower – Private Henry Hightower joined the US Army in March 1943 and was honorably discharged in September 1943.

Frederick Hunter – Private Frederick Hunter joined the US Army in January 1968 and was honorably discharged in January 1971.

Theodore Jackson – Private Theodore Jackson joined the US Army in March 1975 and was honorably discharged in October 1979.

Miguel Lugo – Private First Class Miguel Lugo joined the US Army in January 1954 and served with the Artillery. PFC Lugo was honorably discharged in January 1956.

Myron Sanford Mabry – Veteran Myron Sanford Madry joined the US Navy in May 1960 and was honorably discharged in July 1971. His rank is unknown.

Thomas Miller – Corporal Thomas Miller joined the US Army in May 1951 and was honorably discharged in May 1954.

Michael Nardi – Private Michael Nardi joined the US Marine Corps in September 1964 and was honorably discharged in October 1967.

Charles Nicholson – Private Charles Nicholson joined the US Marine Corps in December 1963 and was honorably discharged in July 1964.

John Palazzo – Seaman Apprentice John Palazzo joined the US Navy in January 1965 and was honorably discharged in January 1967.

Robert Prioleau – Spec. 4 Robert Prioleau joined the US Army in November 1958 and was honorably discharged in February 1962.

James Rose – Veteran James Rose served in the US Army and was honorably discharged. His rank is unknown.

Robert Thompson – Veteran Robert Thompson joined the US Air Force in January 1952 and was honorably discharged in January 1956. His rank is unknown.

Steven Wrighton – Private Steven Wrighton joined the US Army in June 1970 and was honorably discharged in October 1970.

In a moving ceremony Saturday morning at Calverton National Cemetery, 20 veterans – most homeless when they died and all unclaimed by family or loved ones – were laid to rest with full military honors.

The bodies of each were carried in separate hearses that had assembled at 8:30 a.m. in Fresh Meadow, Queens, to begin a procession to Calverton. On the last leg of the journey – Rte. 25 – they passed beneath a series of arches flying American flags, formed by bucket trucks from area fire departments, from the William Floyd Parkway to the entrance to the cemetery.

Once at Calverton, each casket was removed from a hearse one at a time by a Marine honor guard and carried into a tent that had been erected for the occasion. The 20 were from Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, their bodies stored in morgues, some from as far back as 2006, unclaimed and alone.

“We’re here for one overriding reason, and that is the belief that no veteran should pass abandoned and alone,” said John Caldarelli of the Missing in America Project, who served as master of ceremonies.

“Today, in a brief moment of time, we will be their family, we will be their loved ones,” he said. More...

We can never afford to abandon our veterans.

Brantigny