Hundreds attend the Bourne burial of Vietnam War vet Charles Connolly, who died homeless

Hundreds of strangers attended the Friday afternoon funeral of a 78-year-old man who served in the Vietnam War but died homeless and without family.

Charles Connolly was buried alongside 78,000 other veterans at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. He died in the Veterans Affairs Hospice Care Unit in Brockton on Dec. 18.

A video on the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center's Facebook page shows Friday's farewell, in which community members ― many strangers ― turned out to honor Connolly and his service.

"By the end of that service, we were Charlie's family, without question, without hesitation," said Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center executive director James Seymour by phone on Sunday.

The nonprofit organization first learned about Connolly's situation in early fall when the VASH (Veterans Administration Supportive Housing) program in Providence, Rhode Island, referred him to the Hyannis veterans outreach center. At the time, he was couch-surfing and living in his car in between receiving treatment for terminal cancer through the VA in Boston.

For months, Connolly drove himself every other week to the Brockton VA to catch the bus to Jamaica Plain for treatment. He'd stay a night in the hospital and then take the bus back to Brockton.

The Hyannis veterans center helped Connolly during his last days with access to medical care and by securing him a safe and warm place to sleep at a Bourne hotel.

'He didn't want to be a burden'

"Mr. Connolly was very private. He didn't want to be a burden," said Seymour. "That's usually typical ― veterans don't want to be thought of as burdens."

State Rep. Steve Xiarhos, D-Barnstable, called Connolly's story "a powerful reminder of the challenges many of our veterans face after their service."

"His journey, marked by courage and resilience, ended in the compassionate care of the Veterans Affairs Hospice Unit in Brockton," wrote Xiarhos in a Facebook post. "Despite the lack of family by his side, Charlie's spirit was never alone, thanks to the unwavering support of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center and individuals like Jim Seymour."

When they learned Connolly had died, Seymour said the team wanted to make sure he was not buried alone and organized a funeral, getting the word out through public outreach and media coverage.

"The reality of Charlie not having any friends or family that he made us aware of — the thought of him being buried by himself with no family didn't sit right," said Seymour.

One of Connolly's friends was able to attend the funeral and receive the burial flag after he saw the story on a Boston newscast and reached out to Seymour. Seymour said the friend gave details about Connolly's history, saying Connolly was a local guy who worked on high-end yachts, crewed and repaired them, throughout the Upper Cape.

"Filling in some of those pieces really gave the opportunity to know Charlie better, some closure ... he'll never be forgotten," said Seymour.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hundreds attend burial of Charles Connolly, a homeless Vietnam war vet