A homeless war veteran is laid to rest with military honors

LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Friends of war veteran Thomas Clay gathered Friday afternoon to say goodbye to their loved one.

Clay was 58. He died homeless. "I use to bring him hot meals when I could...he never asked for it, I just did it on my own," said his friend Michael Serbun.

His friends say Clay is survived by his estranged wife and daughter who live in Minnesota.

Clay served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1972. He also served in the Vietnam War for three and a half years. He was laid to rest at the South Florida National Cemetery. The cemetery serves veterans and their eligible family members.

"He's gone now but... just his body is gone. His soul is still alive in all of us," said Robert Janowski, Clay's best friend.

 The free burial was made possible by the Department of Defense's "Honoring Those Who Served" program.

Clay spent his last days at Vitas Hospice Care in Fort Lauderdale.