Deceased Homeless Vietnam Vet Inspired Many In Greensboro

UPDATE
Homeless Veteran Tom Cole To Get Full Military Burial
WDMY News
Faith Abubey
Sep 20, 2013

Greensboro, NC -- Earlier this week a homeless man was found dead in a wooded area not far from a cemetery on South Elm Street in Greensboro.

The body was later identified as Tom Cole. WFMY News 2 learned from viewers that Cole was a veteran who took care of Union Cemetery, the cemetery close to where his body was found.

After WFMY aired a story about Cole, some kind-hearted people in the Triad rallied to give Cole a full and proper military burial.

Tom Cole was a homeless Vietnam War veteran an until his death, he took it upon himself to be the unofficial caretaker of a Union Cemetery in Greensboro for eight years.

He even got the city to put up a flagpole at the cemetery, to honor the fallen soldiers buried there.
Read more here

Deceased Homeless Vet Inspired Many In Greensboro
Faith Abubey
September 19, 2013

Greensboro, NC -- The death of a 68-year-old homeless man has touched a community in a way you rarely see.

Earlier this week, Greensboro police found Tom Cole's body in a wooded area on South Elm Street. They say he died of natural causes.

The Vietnam War veteran who ended up on the streets is now being remembered as a man who saw it better to give than to receive.

"He was a good guy. He was sweet," said Jenny, a woman who worked across from where Tom has taken shelter over the years. "You'd always get a good morning from him," Frank Toledano said fondly.

Tom wasn't just any homeless man.

He was a Vietnam War veteran - A Marine who believed it was better to give than to receive.
read more here

You may like this story as well. We had the same thing happen in Orlando a couple of years back. Because I posted on the amazing love of partitioners at the church he found a home with, his son was serving as a Marine in Iraq when he discovered what happened to his Dad. He knew his Dad was loved, never gave up trying to find him and he also discovered he had brothers and sisters. All this because some people decided that Andrew was worth loving.

Vietnam Vet Andrew Elmer Wright found a home as a homeless vet
The Story of Vietnam Veteran Andrew Elmer Wright, Proof of Love
Uploaded on Sep 1, 2011
First United Church of Christ proved that miracles can still happen. They took in a homeless Vietnam Veteran, gave him love and gave a family closure. His son was serving in the Marines when he found out what happened to his Dad.