Lawrence Kays

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Lawrence M Kays was active in the army March 1956 to November 1957
We will be holding a memorial service on Friday the 20th to pay our respects to this unclaimed veteran.
Everyone is welcome. Please join us at the Kiva Chapel located at Rivera Family Funeral Home, 471 East Rodeo Road, Santa Fe NM 87505 between 1 and 2pm. We will be leaving at 2:15 to go to the Santa Fe National Cemetery where he will be laid to rest.

KOAT 7 News
SANTA FE, N.M. — A veteran will soon be buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, but none of his family will be there. Army Private First Class Lawrence Kays died at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in November. His body was at the morgue for a month, because no one claimed him. Raymond Lucero with the Rivera Family Funeral Home in Santa Fe took in the veteran's body and has organized a funeral for Kays. Lucero is hoping members of the community attend.
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"We're trying to provide him with full military honors, which he deserves," Lucero said.
The community is invited to attend Kays' visitation Friday at 1 p.m. at the funeral home in Santa Fe. The procession will follow at 2:15 p.m. The burial will be at the national cemetery in Santa Fe at 3 p.m.

WEBVTT REPORTER: I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THIS MAN, BUT SADLY NO ONE KNOW A LOT, EXCEPT FOR HIS NAME, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS P LAWRENCE KAYS IN THE CHAPEL OF THE RIVERA FAMILY FUNERAL HOME IN SANTA FE SITS A CASKET, AN AMERICAN FLAG DRAPPED OVER IT.

LUCERO: THE WAY I LOOK AT IT HE'S GONE BUT NOT FORGOT.

REPORTER: INSIDE, THE BODY OF ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, LAWRENCE KAYS. NEARBY, A MAN WITH MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE HE'S NEVER MET.

DO YOU FIND YOURSELF WONDERING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHO MR.KAYS WAS? HIS STORY, HIS HISTORY?

LUCERO: DEFINITELY.

REPORTER: KAYS LAST ADDRESS WAS IN ARROYO SECO. HE DIED AT CHRISTUS ST.PVINCENT'S IN NOVEMBER.HIS BODY SAT AT THE HOSPITAL MORGUE FOR A MONTH, UNTIL RAYMOND
LUCERO AGREED TO TAKE IT IN

IS IT SO SAD THAT HE SAT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THAT LONG AND NO ONE CLAIMED HIS BODY?

LUCERO: YES M'AM.

REPORTER: ON FRIDAY THERE WILL BE A VISITATION THEN A PROCESSION TO THE SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETARY FOR A BURIAL.

LUCERO: WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE HIM WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS, WHICH HE DESERVES.

REPORTER: LUCERO IS ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW UP. YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE HOPING THAT SANTA FE WILL ADOPT HIM IN A WAY, RIGHT?
LUCERO: EXACTLY.
REPORTER: LUCERO SAYS THEY MAY NOT KNOW KAYS IMMEDIATE FAMILY,BUT SAYS HE BELONGS WITH THE FAMILY THEY DO KNOW OF.

LUCERO: PLACED IN A PLACE WHERE HE'S HOME WITH HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

REPORTER: LUCERO DOESN'T NOW WHERE KAYS' STORY BEGAN BUT HE'S DETERMINED. HOW WOULD IT MAKE YOU FEEL IF A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO HIS FUNERAL ON FRIDAY?

LUCERO: IT WOULD BE A BLESSING.

REPORTER: THIS IS HOW IT ENDS. THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO ATTEND KAYS' VISITATION FRIDAY AT 1:15 AT RIVERA FAMILY FUNERAL HOME IN SANTA FE. THE PROCESSION WILL FOLLOW AT 2 P.M. THE BURIAL WILL BE AT THE SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY.


http://www.koat.com/article/unclaimed-veteran-gets-full-military-funeral/8613539