A Rochester man wants to give his late father and Navy veteran a proper burial. Doing so will cost thousands. That's why he’s holding a benefit fundraiser in Charlotte this weekend.

Bernie Gennarino was a Rochester native and decorated veteran who served 22 years in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in 1943 at the age of 17, and served during World War Two, the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam.

It was a life of service which, at it's end, should have earned Bernie military honors.

But there were none.

“I’m ashamed of what happened to him,” said Jim Gennarino, Bernie’s son. “I'm embarrassed.”

Chief Petty Officer Bernie Gennarino passed away in a Dallas, Texas hospital in August of 2001. He was buried in Texas, in a pauper's grave, with no headstone – and no military honors.

“What was apparent to me, his location was a mud puddle filled with leaves,” said Jim.

The elder Gennarino didn't have life insurance, and Jim says he felt pressure to make quick decisions, which resulted in his dad's final resting place. Now, Jim wants to bring his dad home.

“It's very important for me to right the wrong,” he said.

But doing so will be costly – Jim estimates disinterment, cremation, permits and shipping will cost about $4,000. To help cover the cost, he's organized a Sunday benefit at Nola's BBQ in Charlotte.

Whatever he raises above the cost of getting his dad's remains home, Jim says he will donate to a national veterans recovery program, which seeks proper burial for thousands of forgotten vets.

“Our goal is to get each and every one of these people taken off the shelf and put in an honorable, dignified burial ground,” he said.

Jim says he hasn't decided whether to bury his father at a naval cemetery, or at sea. He figures either way – though ten years late – would be the right way.

“The guy's gotta get pulled out of where he's at, and put somewhere respectable,” he said. “Bottom line.”

Bernie Gennarino benefit