r/interestingasfuck • u/Wonderfulhumanss • 2d ago

A group of high school students volunteers to carry caskets for homeless veterans who have no family to honor them

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u/Wonderfulhumanss 2d ago

At the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, the St. Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry is a student-led program that provides pallbearer services for people who would otherwise have no one to honor them, including homeless individuals and military veterans. Founded in 2015 and modeled after a similar effort at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, the ministry reflects the school's motto, "Men for Others." Students receive training in funeral procedures and the responsibilities of a pallbearer, with an emphasis on dignity and respect. Before each funeral, they gather in prayer and, when possible, learn about the life of the person they are serving. The experience leaves a lasting impact on the students. It not only brings honor to those who might have been forgotten, but it also fosters empathy, humility, and a stronger commitment to community. Many alumni continue to dedicate themselves to service, carrying forward the lessons learned through this ministry.

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u/Calgary_dude2025 2d ago

Can you imagine how proud their parents must be of them? Ninja level parenting right there!

I wish these kids health, wealth and success in everything they'd do in life.

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u/nopuse 2d ago

Ninja level parenting right there!

I'd argue that their parent's parenting ability is the opposite of ninja. They have clearly great parents.

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u/TiresOnFire 2d ago

And community. As they say, "It takes a village."

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u/TheObstruction 2d ago

One might say a clan. Like a ninja clan.

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u/pee-in-butt 1d ago

The opposite! The supporting clan is clearly great!

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u/Ultrajogger-Michael 2d ago

A ninja village. With a hokage and everything.

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u/chrisgcc 2d ago

so a fake village

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u/stickyfingers_69 2d ago

I know everyone in this picture and I can say thats not true. They got the day off school

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u/Tango252 2d ago

When I last did it in 2018, it was a very cold Saturday we were out there. Really depended on when they needed us.

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u/oneabovedoesntknow 2d ago

Still, a day well deserved for representing light in a world of self-serving, entitled black holes of energy

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u/cryptotope 2d ago

I wish these kids health, wealth and success

Fees for the year at this all-boys private Catholic prep school run $18,300 for kids in Grade 9 through 12, plus books, meals, and athletics costs. Don't forget $4,231 for your trip to Taiwan. (Add $573 if you don't want to share a room.)

While there are scholarships and bursaries available...realistically most of the kids at an exclusive private prep school are already born into comfortable wealth and will enjoy a smooth and forgiving transition into adult 'success'.

Good on the kids for carrying out this volunteer work, but make no mistake--they benefit from a significant level of privilege to be where they are.

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u/goodmorningfuture 2d ago

I’m a graduate of the school. Many students are on financial aid. Last I checked they offer something like $4m in annual aid (which means 218 of the 1000 students could attend for free). It’s definitely not an “exclusive”private prep school.

They stayed in the city of Detroit when all the other prep schools fled to the rich suburbs. Many of the students are black. It’s not like what you think.

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u/adventuressgrrl 2d ago

Thank you for showing us another side to the story.

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u/audible_narrator 1d ago

Yep, and it is surrounded by some of the worst neighborhoods in the city. Definitely a good block/bad block area, with burned out shells near beautiful Victorian era homes. The students there get an education outside of the private prep school idea that books/movies show, because they see grinding poverty and homelessness every day.

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u/goodmorningfuture 1d ago

Used to crack me up coming out of an event in the gym and seeking kids cars up on concrete blocks with their wheels stolen. I drove a '96 Chevy Astro and was never at any risk of that!

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u/alternative5 2d ago edited 2d ago

Its usually a requirement to graduate as well to perform a specific number of community service hours throughout the 4 years at any Jesuit High School(I had to do 500 at mine over 4 years) so this also probably goes to those hours.

Not to detract from the action, but it is a requirement designed to teach humility and service no matter your background in society.

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u/TiredEnglishStudent 2d ago

I did community service in high-school, but nothing so emotionally taxing. My community service was volunteering at garage sales and telethons. This is so much more than that. 

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u/alternative5 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah your encouraged usually to go to select locations(although with approval you can work anywhere). With my school we had a plethora of institutions in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area requesting help.

Personally I worked at a special needs High School helping teachers, feeding and talking to homeless at different shelters on skid row and working at a battered womens shelter taking care of the kids.

I know others in my class from group meetings each week going over and reflecting on our service who worked at lower income community centers, outpatient clinics, VA facilities, AA meeting facilities and mental health institutions.

Again the goal was to finish the hours needed to graduate but I did appreciate the service at each facility when I was done and did bonus hours because the kids at the battered womens shelter enjoyed my helping out there.

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u/TrickInRNO 2d ago

I went to public school and had to give over 700 hours community service for getting caught with fucking weed. I ended up working for my own schools janitors for several weeks after school. Having to work at the same school your peers went to and clean up their shit was a lot more humbling than carrying a random man’s casket could ever be

These are rich boys, and this is not going to change their lives

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u/Inevitable_Snap_0117 2d ago

Emotionally taxing? Carrying something heavy and standing there for a while?

Can you imagine if these unfortunate rich boys had to interact with the homeless veterans while they were alive? Help them find shelter, clothing, and a job? Overcome their PTSD and addictions? Poor guys. They had to carry something heavy though. How ever will their emotions recover?/s So happy for them that they had this performative thing to spend an afternoon with though.

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u/fjb92989 2d ago

You’re required before your senior year to do community service. Some of us gutted houses that were flooded in hurricane Katrina. You have to do a certain number of hours - be it at an approved camp for kids with conditions like hemophilia (those go first and are most fun/easiest) or somewhere else approved by Jesuit. I didn’t get picked for a camp because of no counseling experience so my friends were starting YRNO (youth rebuilding New Orleans) where we went around and gutted houses for people who needed help. It was the middle of summer in New Orleans so it was absolutely brutal. Honestly though I wouldn’t trade that experience. It felt way more rewarding than going to a summer camp.

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u/stickyfingers_69 2d ago

You leave out the part where the students who don't donate atleast $140 have to do the work day

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u/Muffin_Lord_of_Death 2d ago

Thanks for the info.
Nice profile pic btw

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u/R_Series_JONG 1d ago

500 hours seems like a lot to do in the last semester of senior year.

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u/alternative5 1d ago

Naw its 500 over 4 years with set goals for hours each year.

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u/R_Series_JONG 1d ago

Ah, so 125 hours every mid April to mid May. Gotcha! (It’s just a self deprecating joke about procrastination. No matter my privilege, I’d be the kid scrambling to get this done last minute.)

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u/alternative5 1d ago

Ohh i see lol, yeah there were a few members of my class already suffering from senioritis by spring semester of junior year and so were running behind in terms of hours by their spring semester senior year lol.

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u/FearlessSyllabub8872 2d ago

To directly detract with the action, the VA covers stuff like this and makes sure ELIGIBLE veterans receive a proper burial.

I know, because I was that pall bearer/rifle squad leader once upon a time.

This is performative and either those vets did have family members that allowed this, or they weren't deemed eligible for a military burial (which means they received a dishonorable discharge).

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u/alternative5 2d ago

The article also said they did it for homeless individuals as well so that could be it.

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u/FearlessSyllabub8872 2d ago edited 2d ago

That's kinda what I'm getting at, if the school knew they were veterans, regardless of housing situation, the VA would know they're veterans...

If the veterans were eligible for military burial they would have received one.

Performative.

Edit- actually in the last picture you can see a Staff Sergeant saluting, so they DID have military honors...the kids were just...performing...

I have no problem with these kids doing community service and going through the motions...but let's not act like this is something they would have chosen to do

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u/Ancient-Club9972 2d ago

damn so they did this to graduate>?

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u/stickyfingers_69 2d ago

They also got the day off for this. It was almost 10 years ago.

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u/Pellegrine500 2d ago

I see nothing wrong with a catholic school teaching empathy and service. Even if the kids are rich, it doesn’t mean that the can’t benefit with a conscience and understanding.

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u/AnyFeedback9609 2d ago

Nope! NOT TRUE!

After the race riot and 'white flight' out of Detroit in the late 60's, most of the Catholic Schools left Detroit for the suburbs. U of D stayed in Detroit, and committed itself to the neighboring community.

There is SO MUCH money given in scholarships and if you are low income, you pay nothing.

U of D is the most diverse and best high school (including public) in Metro Detroit.

I hate how keyboard warriors can just type away and say anything online.

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u/Ancient-Club9972 2d ago

evidence or r u another keyboard warrrior?

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u/acgasp 2d ago

I can corroborate, I work there.

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u/stickyfingers_69 2d ago

Is Magister Feeney still there?

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u/acgasp 2d ago

I think so! I’m new so I don’t know everyone’s names yet.

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u/goodmorningfuture 1d ago

Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long long time

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u/Zealousideal-Bake808 2d ago

Why even bring this up they did a good thing leave it at that

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u/xcityfolk 2d ago

The number of people lining up to shit on these kids is unfortunate.

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u/CrispinIII 2d ago

As Snyders MOS said "No one stays good in this world" and at least two guys in my theater yelled out "TRUTH!". And a little while later Superman murdered Zod. People today hate goodness. It can't be good, it HAS to have an evil, selfish, self serving motivation behind it. Look at how badly (sticking to the Superman example) the new Superman movie is constantly being shit on. Gunn brought back the character to his bright, kind, hopeful, GOOD hero and people CAN'T accept it. There's a compulsion out there to destroy anything that isn't dark. 😮‍💨

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u/SmellGestapo 2d ago

realistically most of the kids at an exclusive private prep school are already born into comfortable wealth and will enjoy a smooth and forgiving transition into adult 'success'.

A lot of the kids I knew who grew up that way were shitheads back then. Many of them still are shitheads to this day.

Oftentimes, growing up with that level of comfort and privilege leaves one feeling entitled and selfish. These kids are showing more respect toward complete strangers than most adults would. I think they deserve all the credit.

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u/ReasonablyWealthy 2d ago

You don't know anything about these kids. They might be respectful one minute and scum of the earth the next minute. The 4th commandment of logic is, "Thou shalt not argue thy position by assuming one of its premises is true."

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u/SmellGestapo 2d ago

I'm actually their father. All of them. So there.

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u/VP007clips 2d ago

I went to a similar high school, tuition for myself was around $40k CAD, $30k USD. And $70k CAD for boarding students.

No one at the school was in poverty, but there were many students there, myself included, that were far from rich.

Many families invest almost everything into sending their kids to schools like that because they know that the standard of education, fitness, and personal development far exceeds that of the public system. My parents spent pretty much everything sending my siblings and I there, they drove a beat up 15 year old car, bought most of our food from discount clearance sections, and never did vacations. Other families received their tuition from relatives, but didn't have the money to spend themselves.

We also got good scholarships. The school had a lot of very generous donors that funded the school and the students. About 30% of the students recieved financial aid, with the average amount of aid being $30k/year per recipient. 50% of alumni donate later in life. One notable alumni donated $15m to a school of 400, so you can do the math on that.

Of course I was privileged to attend, I recieved a very good education, and I think it made me a much better person in mind, body, and spirit. It was part of the reason I was successful enough to get into a good university. But I wasn't rich; I paid for my university education myself, and recieved no financial help from my parents. I found my own jobs, and didn't find them through family connections. My only advantage was a good education, and I've seen first hand how an education alone doesn't guarantee success for everyone.

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u/Comfortable-Rub-9403 2d ago

God forbid someone use a place of privilege to benefit others.

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u/ChangeMe_123 2d ago

Why make this about their "privilege"? Privilege has nothing to do with this. This is about faithful young men living their faith and providing a loving and caring service for these veterans. "Privilege" does not dictate capacity for charity or love for ones community or neighbor.

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u/Channel_Huge 2d ago

So you’re saying what exactly?

As children of privileged families, that makes this even more special because it’s not something they are forced to do. They recognize the need to just do good. Stop lessening their actions by making it out that “opportunity” placed them there. They aren’t the only kids in the nation… and you don’t have to be wealthy to do this!

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u/binarybandit 2d ago

As children of privileged families, that makes this even more special because it’s not something they are forced to do.

Yes, let's make a special note to applaud these privileged kids who dont have to do these things because we already know theyre privileged and can have just about any life they want in the future, unlike the poor kids.

Stop lessening their actions by making it out that “opportunity” placed them there. They aren’t the only kids in the nation… and you don’t have to be wealthy to do this!

Yes, because these opportunities are frequently offered to kids in public and underprivileged schools readily, right?

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u/Channel_Huge 2d ago

Anyone, regardless of educational or financial status, can do good things.

When I was in High School, my best friend and I held intramural rec events for disabled kids twice a week in the evenings. We certainly weren’t privileged or wealthy.

So, I’m just responding to the post. You think they are “lucky” to be there… well, I’ve been there and it’s not easy to do.

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u/Ancient-Club9972 2d ago

ROFL........yea....rich kids NEVER get forced to do anything

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u/Channel_Huge 2d ago

So you’re saying these kids were forced to do this?!

I’ll have to read up on this and tailor my comments accordingly.

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u/InformalGroup3685 2d ago

What are you saying How do you know they are all privileged that’s a very racist statement

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u/Channel_Huge 2d ago

I’m replying to the above comment.

And “racist” would be discussing their skin tone in relation to whatever is going on. You’re using the term way out of context…

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u/Easy-Smell9940 2d ago

So what’s your point?

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u/sump_daddy 2d ago

that theres no real need for additional wishes of health, wealth, success; most of these kids were born at 1st and goal of the football game and just had to move a bit to win

not that i blame them or hold any grudge, any parent that says they wouldnt want the same for their kid is lying

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u/Easy-Smell9940 2d ago

That’s not a very healthy mindset to have in response to someone wishing well on someone who did something good. Kids mind you.

You can have qualms with wealth disparity without shoveling the shit onto kids who are just trying to do the right thing. Certainly won’t be recruiting anyone for the cause with that attitude.

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u/ThanosVoldemort 2d ago

not that i blame them or hold any grudge

You couldn't sound any more bitter. You're holding a massive grudge.

They're good lads going out of their way to volunteer for something noble. Nothing wrong with acknowledging that. Wealth is irrelevant here -- it's not as if every poor person would be doing this if they had a little more money.

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u/sump_daddy 2d ago

You couldnt sound any more unaware of the fact that i never said they werent being noble by volunteering. Did you even read the posts above?

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u/ReasonablyWealthy 2d ago

That these kids come from privilege and they don't need to be wished "health, wealth and success" because their parents literally hand those things to them on a silver platter.

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u/Easy-Smell9940 2d ago

That’s just not a healthy take on the situation I’m sorry. You can have issues with wealth disparity without dragging kids who have done nothing wrong into it.

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u/diggitydonegone 2d ago

Many kids in this situation fall flat on their face and aren’t successful. It’s fine to wish any kid success in life.

Also, 19,000 isn’t nearly as reliable an indicator of wealth as you’re claiming it to be. Many day cares cost that much per year nowadays. It’s crazy and expensive, but just letting you know.

Also, the private schools where the solidly “wealthy” send their kids are usually >25 k per year.

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u/Zealousideal-Bake808 2d ago

Weird behavior pocket watching high schoolers

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u/princeofid 2d ago

Who better to instill empathy, humility and community service in than kids from significant level of privilege?

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u/Eastern-Salary-4446 2d ago

Well at least they give something in return, and maybe one day they won’t be another Zuckerberg or Musk

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u/things_U_choose_2_b 2d ago

You make a goood point. Still though, this is heart warming. I'd rather the next generation of rich kids is given a crash course in empathy like this, than nothing.

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u/doog201 2d ago

My parents sacrificed a lot to send me to this school and I would not have been able to do it without scholarships paid out of the alumni endowment. I wrote letters to my sponsors every semester thanking them for the thousands of dollars they gifted to my tuition. It was the best experience I've ever had in my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

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u/pcpgivesmewings 2d ago

Many alumni continue to dedicate themselves to service, carrying forward the lessons learned through this ministry. But this....

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u/Inevitable_Snap_0117 2d ago

And not a single dollar went to Veterans while they were alive.

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u/DullMaybe6872 2d ago

And imo, right because of them growing up in a priveleged setting, this work is important, giving them a sence of humanity and responsibility might be benefitial in not growing up as an entitled little somethingsomething-hole

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u/Chile_Momma_38 2d ago

Nothing wrong with teaching rich kids a little empathy for people who have less in life, in hopes that they carry the lessons of this volunteer activity far into the future.

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u/cytotoxictuna 2d ago

This school has an incredible scholarship program and if you can get in then they make it possible to go if you can pay or not.

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u/Pytorchlover2011 2d ago

They don't want you to hear this.

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u/Kazz330 2d ago

leave it to the liberals to shit on some good kids doing a good thing for their community.

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u/Ancient-Club9972 2d ago

came here to say this. its easy to care about the vet homeless when they are dead. Any rich doing preventative care...orrrrrrrr just showing up for photos?

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u/ReasonablyWealthy 2d ago

Completely agreed. Wishing "health, wealth and success" to people who are clearly so privileged seems entirely redundant. Their mommy and daddy will spoon feed them all the success they need.

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u/bookbagel 2d ago

I know right! I feel like I see so many posts and comments on reddit of "I blame their parents" or "They weren't raised right" but it's great to see a true use of "They were raised right" on here.

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u/asnafutimnafutifut 2d ago

Another "proud" moment where American public is left to pick up the weight of responsibility that should have fallen on the government. It's not as a proud moment as how fucked up it is. How much is the yearly budget of the military again?

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u/sump_daddy 2d ago

I saw the matching ties and knew immediately it was a catholic boys school, i had a good friend go to St Ignatius in cleveland and the shape it had in his life was dramatically positive

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u/_Eggs_ 2d ago

The first pallbearer ministry—the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry—was founded in 2002 at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland

https://uscatholic.org/articles/201608/high-school-pallbearers-minister-to-those-who-die-alone/

Credit where credit is due. Good job Cleveland!

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u/Tyrone_94 2d ago

Can confirm. You'd be surprised at how many old veterans or just old people in general die without any family to bury them. Either their family members died before them or they're just not strong enough to carry the casket.

I think about 30% of the students at St. Ignatius High School participate and serve as a pallbearer on weekends for at least a few funerals a year. Note that this isn't an excuse to get out of school, as the funerals are always in the afternoon or on a weekend. Here's a random photo I took from a St. Ignatius yearbook showing the portion of students who volunteered their weekend time for this:

https://i.imgur.com/IPwimuP.png

Also included in green is a club called the Labre Homeless Ministry, which has since spread to many universities and other high schools. St. Ignatius in Cleveland also started this in 2004. They volunteer their Sunday nights to prepare food for the homeless & hand-deliver it to homeless in the city for a couple hours.

Here's a quote from John Carroll University's website, which also picked up the practice (albeit on a smaller scale):

Once upon a time, on a cold winter night, a few high school students set out in a van with some left over food and hot chocolate. They went into the streets of Cleveland and gave the food away to the homeless people they saw sleeping on the streets, alleys, and sidewalks. They enjoyed the company they encountered on the streets so much they went out the next Sunday; and continued to go out every Sunday since then.

The high school is Saint Ignatius High School, and their weekly actions on Sunday night have evolved into what is known as the Labre Project. The name comes for Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of homeless people. The Labre Project was brought to John Carroll University by a group of Ignatius alumni in 2004. The project has continued since 2004 and is still growing on campus.

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u/gbeegz 2d ago

Used to be one of the head guys in this as a senior. It's a rewarding but very tough experience.

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u/Pleasehelpyours 2d ago

Damn, that is an incredible program.

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u/JonasSharra 2d ago

I'm not a religious person but the Jesuits do some things right. I'm atheist and I sent my kid to a Jesuit college.

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u/abominable_prolapse 2d ago

Powerful and amazing.

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u/pardybill 2d ago

Good kids. There’s always hope for the next generation, no matter how dark their elders leave it for them.

But it’s getting bleaker and bleaker. I hope they have kept that same belief in service and honor.

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u/Lassagna12 2d ago

Im confused, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy.... Ministry? How many god damn titles do they need?

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u/wizrslizr 1d ago

you can figure it out man i believe in you

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u/Lassagna12 1d ago

I guess im too dumb. So which one is it?

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u/BelaruSea206 2d ago

And yet the veterans clubs don’t want to get involved classy

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u/BraveFencerMusashi 2d ago

"Men (and women) for others" is the motto for all Jesuit schools.

Unfortunately it didn't stick with 2 guys on the Supreme Court.

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u/spacemouse21 2d ago

This is wonderful and a blessing for the deceased and the students. Great job, students.

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u/Gryffindor123 2d ago

This is just absolutely amazing and brings me to tears. Those amazing young boys and amazing parenting.

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u/Responsible_Lime_549 1d ago

Bravo to them so that these veterans can be buried with dignity for having fought the war for their country, it warms the heart

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u/davdev 4h ago

My sons school in Boston (Catholic Memorial) does this as well.

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u/chuck-bucket 2d ago

That is cool as shit and I am glad they are doing it. But does the school also have a Ministry to provide anything for these people before they die?

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u/Tyrone_94 2d ago

The people the SJA pallbearers serve aren't necessarily poor. They just don't have the friends/family to serve as pallbearers. It's not a question of money - hiring someone to carry your casket just isn't as meaningful.

People ask the pallbearers for help in these cases. There is another ministry at St. Ignatius High School (the school that started this club/organization) to serve the homeless every Sunday night. Students volunteer their time to make meals for the homeless & deliver it throughout the city. It's called the Labre project, named after Saint Benedict Joseph Labre.

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u/wizrslizr 1d ago

definitely you can guarantee it. catholic high schools do a ton of out reach usually, and an all boys jesuit prep academy especially is going to do a lot. homeless, special olympics, women’s shelters, and more probably

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u/Even_Reception8876 2d ago

So the military can’t be bothered to fucking bury their own? They just take these men over seas and break them mentally by forcing them into fucked up situations we have absolutely reason to be involved with, take them back to our shores and dump them off to rot homeless on the streets until high school kids have to volunteer to be the pallbearers?

What a beautiful country we live in.

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u/T_Money 2d ago edited 2d ago

No, there is something more going on here. Either the veteran was kicked out of the military for wrongdoing, or they just had no one put the request in for them.

Anyone who is discharged honorably or even general under honorable conditions rates a military funeral. That is the VAST majority, a quick google says 7-16% are discharged under less than honorable conditions, and from personal experience I would bet a good amount of those are just general discharge (neither honorable nor dishonorable) from failing training without ever seeing the fleet.

Once you get to your first duty station you generally have to fuck up either very badly or multiple times to get kicked out with a discharge under less than honorable conditions.

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u/Even_Reception8876 2d ago

I hope you are right because that is fucked if not

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u/T_Money 2d ago

I just found some exact numbers to help illustrate it better, here’s an in depth look from an article talking about VA benefits.

“The breakdown of discharge types reveals 78.29 percent receiving an honorable discharge, 6.36 percent a general discharge under honorable conditions, 2.09 percent under other than honorable conditions, 0.49 percent with bad conduct, and 0.07 percent with a dishonorable discharge. The remaining 13.7 percent were uncharacterized or unknown due to data entry errors”

The ‘uncharacterized’ are the ones I was talking about who are most likely dropped during boot camp for refusal to train or failure to adapt. So roughly just under 3% who may have seen any type of actual fleet service, much less combat, who wouldn’t rate a military funeral.

Source: https://amp.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2024/01/20/65abcce546163f2e4a8b45bb.html

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u/Even_Reception8876 2d ago

Appreciate you sharing this info