A local World War I veteran from Ulster County was laid to rest last week after decades of his remains going unclaimed, a local volunteer and U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan's office announced.

John Lodge Stoneman enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 when the United States entered World War I. He passed away in 1962, but his cremated remains went unclaimed – forgotten for 62 years.

The effort to give the WWI veteran a proper burial was led by Wiltwyck Cemetery volunteer Kathy Wade, but Stoneman's military records were lost in a fire, so Wade reached out to Congressman Ryan's office for help. They recovered Stoneman's Certificate of Military Service so he could be buried in the Ulster County Veterans' Cemetery in New Paltz.

Stoneman was laid to rest on Thursday, Nov. 7 with full military honors.

“In 1917, John Lodge Stoneman answered our nation’s call as the U.S. entered the Great War – we owe him a debt we can never repay and his legacy deserves the absolute highest place of reverence and honor,” Ryan said in a statement. “Through tireless efforts, Wiltwyck Cemetery volunteer Kathy Wade pieced together the story of John’s life and I am grateful that my office was able to assist her in obtaining his military records so that he could finally receive the honorable burial he was long overdue. I want to thank Kathy and the countless other community members who made it their mission to lay John Lodge Stoneman in his final and rightful resting place, alongside his fellow heroes and ensure his place in American history is recognized for years to come.”

Director of the Ulster County Veteran Services Agency Mark Cozzupoli said it was “an honor” to “bring a veteran home.”