Memorial service to honor Fresno homeless people who have died

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A memorial service took place in Downtown Fresno to remember the Valley's homeless men and women who have died out on the streets.

Local advocates for the homeless believe at least 102 homeless people here in the Valley have passed away during the last three to five years. Thirteen were veterans of war.

The Diocese of Fresno helped organize the second annual memorial at the Poverello House in downtown Fresno.

"We were able to remind ourselves that all of us need to take better care of those brothers and sisters who are homeless among us so that we will not only remember them in death but that we will be caring for them in life," said Jim Grant.

Several other religious leaders also spoke at today's memorial including guests from the Islamic Cultural Center, the Jewish temple and the Sikh community.