From: The N.Y. Daily News.....
Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs helps coordinate benefits, funerals
BY STEPHEN REX BROWN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
JOHN TAGGART FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Veteran pays respects to Jesus Matos, who served in Vietnam, at the George Werst Funeral Home in Glendale, Queens, on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. The Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs helps ensure deceased veterans without any friends or family get a proper military burial.
Michael Honan saluted the flag-draped coffin of a man he’d never met.
“Farewell, comrade,” said Honan, 67, who along with 11 other veterans gave a proper military sendoff Oct. 24 to Jesus Matos, a Vietnam vet who died without anyone to claim his body.
During the short, somber ceremony at George Werst Funeral Home in Glendale, Queens, the vets — members of the American Legion — saluted the casket one by one.
He “has now enrolled in that great spirit army whose footfalls cause no sound,” said Paul Schottenhamel, 65, who gave a short eulogy.
Matos was the 246th veteran to received a proper military burial after his body was left unclaimed at the city medical examiner’s office.
Typically, staffers see a tattoo, find a medal or hear from an acquaintance that the deceased may have served in the military and notify the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs. The office, with the help of veterans organizations, confirms the deceased’s service and honorable discharge and arranges the military burial.
“Whether you’re a private or a general, the country recognizes them for their service and thanks their families,” said Terrance Holliday, 67, the commissioner of the office and a retired colonel of the Air Force Reserve.
CHARLES SYKES/INVISION FOR USO
Terrance Holliday, Commissioner of Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs, presents Gerard Byrne, chairman and founder of Veterans Week NYC, with proclamation last year. "Veterans need to know New York City is there for them," Holliday says. "We're there to help with benefits, and we want to make sure they're getting them."
With only five full-time employees, the little-known office assists the city’s 201,000 former servicemen and women with all manner of issues.
“Veterans need to know New York City is there for them,” Holliday said. “We’re there to help with benefits, and we want to make sure they’re getting them."
Sometimes that assistance can be as simple as a nice suit to wear to a job interview.
Roughly 300 veterans have received the spiffy new duds courtesy of the agency and its non-profit partners, Holliday said.
The office and the veterans groups could learn little about Matos, 67. He enlisted in the Army in 1967 and left active duty in 1975. He last lived in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and died on Sept. 8 at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.
But he served his country. And in death, at least, he was not alone.
“We don’t have to know much about him,” said Schottenhamel, who served in Vietnam and retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel. “He is a fellow veteran and we honor that service.”
As Matos’ casket was loaded into a hearse, the veterans from all branches of service saluted him again. The casket was bound for Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island, where other veterans conducted a final burial ceremony.
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