Topeka — "I was outraged."

That's William Foley Senior describing how he felt eleven years ago when heard about Alfred A. Williams. Williams had died, and no family stepped forward to help pay the costs of his burial.

"Being a veteran myself, no vet should go without services - no vet should go without a proper funeral," Foley said.

So Foley raised the money, Williams was given a proper burial, but it didn't end there.

"And we had enough money left over that since then I've buried almost 25 people now," he said.

And that's what brings Foley out here, along Topeka Boulevard every year or so, to remind people that the need is still there and he could use their help.

"I will continue to do this as long as I'm able to get out here," promises Foley. "And I do it for a seven day period. I don't use call centers-I don't send out flyers-I just come out myself. It's slow, but we're in hard times. I understand that. An I'm only asking for a dollar per person. If they want to give more they can."

And if Foley ever needs motivation, he just goes back eleven years, and remembers his feelings when he first heard about the man whose name is on the fund.

"It made me mad," he said. "That a veteran of our armed services, whether it be army, navy, air force, marine corps or coast guard. These men have laid their life on the line. They signed on the dotted line that said that they would do that. Whatever they did, whether it was wartime or peacetime, they deserve this much. They deserve this much. They deserve a decent burial."

On Sunday night, at the end of his week of fund-raising, Foley said he took in about $450 during the week. You can still help by donating to the Alfred A. Williams Memorial Fund at any CoreFirst bank.

And if you know someone who you think would make an interesting segment of Ben's People, here's my number and e-mail - 785-215-8532 or bbauman@ktka.tv