- Executive Office of Veterans Services
Type of Service: Funeral Honors for Unclaimed Veterans
Location: Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, MA
Date of Service: January 24, 2025
In January, three unclaimed Massachusetts veterans were laid to rest with full military honors at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. These funerals were part of an ongoing effort to properly honor veterans whose remains had gone unclaimed, with over 200 urns discovered by Campbell Funeral Home last year.
Among those identified and honored were:
- Charles (Apr. 30, 1897 - Nov. 19, 1988) and Ruth Saunders (Mar. 6, 1909 - Jun. 5, 1993), funeral held Nov. 27, 2024
- Francis Joseph Richards II (Mar. 25, 1918 - Dec. 26, 1976), funeral held Dec. 18, 2024
- John Gilmore Wolcott (Jan. 31, 1891 - May 5, 1965), funeral held Dec. 18, 2024
- Phillip L. Tutino (Aug. 5, 1933 - Nov. 23, 2005), funeral held Jan. 24, 2025
- William "Pop" D. Carver (Jan. 15, 1927 - Aug. 19, 2017), funeral held Jan. 24, 2025
- Suzanne W. Gleason (Mar. 6, 1921 - Sept. 21, 2001), funeral held Jan. 24, 2025
This important work would not be possible without the dedication of Aaron Mizen, who has been working to locate and identify unclaimed veterans, reunite them with their families, and ensure they receive the honor they deserve. Thanks to his efforts, some veterans’ remains—some dating as far back as the 1960s—have been returned to their loved ones. He continues to search for families of at least 20 to 30 more unclaimed veterans.
Mizen’s commitment brings honor not only to the veterans he serves but also to their families and the entire Massachusetts community. His tireless efforts ensure that no service member is forgotten.
For those who may have missing relatives who served in the military, or for more information on these efforts, the Campbell Funeral Home can be contacted at (978) 922-1113.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Aaron Mizen for his unwavering commitment to honoring Massachusetts veterans and reuniting them with the families who deserve the chance to remember them.
