WINCHENDON – On Friday, the unclaimed remains of three veterans were laid to rest at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon.

In November of last year, Beverly-based Campbell Funeral Home purchased two other funeral homes, one in Gloucester, the other in Ipswich. Found at these two facilities were some 200 unclaimed urns, 40 of them containing the ashes of U.S. service members.

After discovering that many of the unclaimed urns were those of veterans, funeral director Aaron Mizen contacted cemetery administrative officer Adam LeBlanc, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Services.

“What the home has been doing is putting on these services for these unclaimed veterans who don’t have family, or anyone to claim them,” said the spokesperson. “It’s really a beautiful thing. There are volunteers and folks in the community who come and honor these folks and give them a proper burial.”

LeBlanc explained that the funeral director tries to track down family members of the deceased. If family members are found, he’ll ask if they are agreeable to having the remains buried “at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery with the rest of their brothers and sisters. No one has said ‘no’ yet. None of these veterans go without a service, without their honors, and we have other veterans and families who are here to send them off as they properly should be.”

Prior to Friday, the remains of three other veterans whose urns were discovered in November have been interred at the cemetery, according to LeBlanc.

On hand for Friday’s services was a contingent of the Patriot Guard Riders, along with a firing team from Veterans of Foreign Wars Ovila Case Post 905 in Gardner. A sizeable number of members of the veterans’ group Rolling Thunder were also present for the ceremonies.

The first ceremony held Friday was for William “Pop” D. Carver, who died in August 2017 at the age of 90. A boson’s mate in the U.S. Navy, his service spanned World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Carver did have family on hand for the service; a grandson and granddaughter.

The other veterans buried Friday included Suzanne W. Gleason, who served as an Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class in the U.S. Navy WAVES during World War II. She went on to teach art at high schools in Tewksbury, Barre and Peabody. She died in September 2001 at the age of 80 and her remains went unburied for nearly a quarter century.

Also laid to rest was Phillip L. Tutino, who died in November 2005 at 72. According to his obituary, he was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal for heroic action during combat operations. He became a commercial fisherman following his service. For 20 years, his urn went unclaimed.

Other veterans whose remains went unclaimed and have been buried in Winchendon since November include:

Husband and wife Charles and Ruth Saunders. Charles served in World War I, losing his eyesight in combat. He was 91 when he died in 1988; Ruth died in 1993 at the age of 84.

Francis Joseph Richards II, who died in 1976 at age 58, served honorably during World War II and Korea.

John Gilmore Wolcott died in 1965 at age 74. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War I.

“It’s a privilege to do these services,” said LeBlanc. “None of these veterans go without a service, without their honors.”

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.