John Fitzmaurice, a veteran of the United States Army, died homeless. In addition to not having a location to call home, he lacked family, friends, and loved ones. No one came forward to claim his corpse. This also meant that his burial would be attended by few, if any, individuals.
When a group of high school pupils learned about it, they thought the homeless veteran deserved to be recognized. Teenagers from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, not only attended the late John T. Fitzmaurice’s burial, but also carried his casket.
Fitzmaurice was given a full funeral Mass in the chapel of Catholic Memorial School before being put to rest at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. The boys from the private school carried out their responsibilities with respect and dignity, acting as family members for a U.S. Army veteran who died at the age of 68 and appeared to have none.
The dignity of stepping in for this man who had no family touched them. It was a lesson in respecting everyone’s humanity, said Marcus Miller, a school spokesperson. This is the first time they’ve done something like this, Miller noted, but it won’t be the last.
It is said that the all-boys private school has began partnering with Lazarus Ministry and the Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home in the Boston suburb of West Roxbury. The collaboration is intended to offer funerals for the homeless, the underprivileged, and those who die alone with no relatives.
There was no lack of youthful volunteers at Fitzmaurice’s memorial ceremony to pay honor to the individual who served his nation. Not only did a group of juniors and seniors act as pallbearers, however the funeral was also attended by a sophomore theology class. According to Miller, there were around 40 personnel at his disposal.
The community responded so positively, and the boys had such a fantastic experience. Their students are in charge of the disadvantaged and those who are unable to communicate, Miller explained. He guessed a lot of them had never even gone to a funeral, so he went on. This is their first time being this close to a casket, feeling the weight of this individual, recognizing he was a human being like the rest of them, and he deserved friendship.
The flag was draped across Mr. Fitzmaurice’s coffin by Peter Folan, the president of Memorial High School. Folan spoke candidly about the event in an interview with the Boston Herald. It was an honor for their kids and the Catholic Memorial community to be his family, he stated. Their pupils understand that they have the life they have because of the grace of God.
The event provided an introduction to the harsh realities of life, and there is no question that such voluntary activity will assist these young guys in developing into caring and grateful people. It has impacted every kid, instilling a newfound appreciation for their home, friends, and family – things we all too frequently neglect to appreciate.
The teenagers have been lauded for recognizing the veteran’s commitment to our country and paying tribute to his accomplishments. This tale demonstrates how, if given the chance, even young pupils can make a good influence on the less fortunate people of their community. Congratulations to these students and this institution for identifying and addressing a vacuum. Excellent work, gentlemen.
