Posted on 06/08/2008 1:12:04 PM PDT by SandRat
A number of veteran events are coming up in the Sierra Vista area.
“The one-year clock is ticking and the name of the game is fundraising,” said Joe Larson, administrator of the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
He was speaking about next May’s reburial of remains of soldiers from the late 1800s from a Tucson cemetery to the Sierra Vista site.
Larson spoke at the monthly meeting of the Grater Sierra Vista Area United Veterans Council meeting on Saturday.
The Historic Soldiers Relocation Project will involve the reburial of 70 sets of remains, of which 53 are known, in an area at the state-operated cemetery off of Buffalo Soldier Trail, which is scheduled to be done on May 16 next year, he said.
The remains are a mix of cavalry and infantry soldiers exhumed from a long-unused cemetery in Tucson which is where that city and Pima County will be building a court complex. The remains have already been removed.
While some funds will be available for the project additional money is needed to prepare the area at the Sierra Vista cemetery to hold the remains, he said. Individuals who want to donate can contact Larson at 458-7144.
Three Eagle Scout candidates are working on projects as part of the relocation program Larson added.
Retired Marine Col. Bob White, who chairs the council, said service organizations will be asked to participate in the May 16 event to make it a noteworthy day.
Another project for the cemetery is the eventual placement of a carillon in the facility as part of the AMVETS program, he said.
White said the annual Veteran’s Day Parade will take place on Nov. 11 and will include an event at the city’s Veterans’ Memorial Park.
The VFW Riders also will be hosting the 2nd Annual POW/MIA Remembrance Run beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 27. The event starts at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Proceeds will benefit the VFW National Home for Widows and Orphans and the Historic Soldiers Relocation Project.
SandRat - Thanks for the post. I enjoyed my time at Ft. Huachuca.
Thanks for the ping. I’m glad they are doing this.
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