KENT, Wash. -- They served our country, then they were forgotten.

Until today.

Ashes of 28 veterans finally laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery today after spending years on the shelves at the King County Medical Examiner's Office.

The remains stayed on the shelves for legal reasons. Until recently, one had to be a family member of the deceased to claim a veteran. But national cemetery director James Trimbo signed an agreement, assuming all legal responsibility so that the veterans can be laid to rest.

Many of them hit hard times after serving. Some were homeless, forsaken by their families.

"I want them to be here because this is where their comrades are," Trimbo said. "When they were in the service, they had a certain amount of camaraderie and now they have it even in death."

None of the veterans' family members or friends were present at the burial ceremony. But there were a number of grateful fellow veterans on hand.

"To think that nobody would be here for them and that they'd be put into a hole in the ground without anything is wrong," said veteran Al Zarb.

Until now these veterans were considered MIA, but now they've found a final resting place.

The names of the veterans are:

• Sgt. Kurt M Allen, Vietnam, Army

• Theodore Arthur Bender, Korea, Army

• PFC David Cook, Vietnam, Army

• PV2 Thomas Ellis Jr., Korea, Army

• Terry Fay Evans, Vietnam, Army

• PV2 Dale Edmonds Hanson, Vietnam, Army

• SP4 Kenneth G. Holland, Vietnam, Army

• SP4 Ronny Utah Scott, peacetime, Army

• Grady Jess Shirley, Korea, Army

• SP4 Kevin W Thayer, Vitenam, Army

• SGT Harry Richard Thompson, peacetime, Army

• SP4 Edgar Thomas Walloch, Vietnam, Army

• PFC Joseph Wynn, Vietnam, Army

• SR Stanley Bradley, peacetime, Navy

• SN Andrew Joseph Burton, Vietnam, Navy

• Robert W Condon Jr, Vietnam, Navy

• James Q Hafner, Vietnam, Navy

• John Michael O’Reilly, Vietnam, Navy

• Charles Savicki, Vietnam, Navy

• SR Robert Seese, Vietnam, Navy

• SN Albert S Smith, Vietnam, Navy

• SN Norman White, Vietnam, Navy and Air Force

• Christopher M David, Vietnam, Air Force

• SRA Marjorie B Harrell, peacetime, Air Force

• Allen E Stone, Korea, Air Force

• LCPL Paul D Fuller, Vietnam, Marine Corps

• PFC Billy Eugene Ramsey, Vietnam, Marine Corps

• PFC Kenneth Wayne White, peacetime, Marine Corps