Detroit Jesuit Students Honor Homeless Veterans by Serving as Pallbearers
A Mission of Honor and Humanity
A group of high school students from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy has taken on a mission few teenagers ever encounter. They volunteer as pallbearers for homeless military veterans who die without family or friends to claim them.
Standing In When No One Else Can
Many homeless veterans pass away without next of kin. In those cases, funerals can be small—or nonexistent. That is where these students step in.
Dressed formally and trained in proper funeral protocol, the students carry the caskets with care and dignity. They stand in silence. They listen. And they show respect to men and women who once served their country.
n doing so, they become the final companions for veterans who would otherwise be forgotten.
Learning Respect Beyond the Classroom
Students learn about military customs. They understand the weight of the responsibility. Every movement matters. Every step counts.
More importantly, they learn empathy. They learn what service looks like after uniforms are folded away.
Why This Matters
Military service does not end with discharge. Nor should respect.
Many homeless veterans struggled with trauma, health issues, or economic hardship after serving. By honoring them in death, the students acknowledge those sacrifices.
Even when society failed these veterans in life, the students make sure dignity remains in death.
A Powerful Lesson in Service
The experience leaves a lasting impact on the students involved. Carrying a casket is physical work. Yet the emotional weight is heavier.
Students often reflect on gratitude, humility, and responsibility. They gain a deeper understanding of service—one that goes beyond words or ceremonies.
This mission reinforces values central to Jesuit education: service to others, justice, and respect for human life.
Quiet Acts With Lasting Meaning
There are no cameras. No applause. Just presence.
By serving as pallbearers, these students send a powerful message. No veteran should be forgotten. No life should end without acknowledgment.
In moments of silence and solemn duty, they prove that honor does not require recog