More than 100 people turned out Saturday for a ceremony to inter the remains 27 veterans who were recently identified with the assistance of a national organization.
The veterans along with two spouses, all of whom were identified in Arizona, were honored and laid to rest with full military honors at the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana.
Dozens of representatives from all four branches of the military and U.S. Veterans Services were present, as well as coordinators from the Missing in America Project, or MIAP, the group that helped identify the veterans.
Bob Day, one of the Southern Arizona coordinators for MIAP, started the ceremony by introducing his group, which has identified the remains of veterans dating to the 1800s.
MIAP, which is active in 30 states, coordinates with funeral homes and the Veterans Association to identify remains,and give them the military honors that they deserve, Day said.
“Many of these veterans are indigent, homeless or just off the grid,” he said. “Often the family doesn’t even know that their loved one is in Arizona.”
Roughly a dozen representatives from veterans groups across Southern Arizona lined the semicircle pavilion, holding flags that fluttered in the breeze as Navy Cmdr. Jonathan Morton called out a “final roll call” of the deceased veterans’ names.
Several American flags were held outstretched by active duty military members, as Taps played in the background.
The flags were refolded with grandeur, and presented to family members of the veterans, who sat on the stage with service members and representatives from Martha McSally and Anne Kirkpatrick’s offices.
After the presentation of the flags, the 27 gilded urns were taken one by one to the columbarium and tucked into their niches as family members stood by, many of them crying quietly.
Andrea McCammon received a flag in honor of her husband, Jerry Lee, and watched as his ashes were escorted down the walkway and placed into their niche, surrounded by the remains of men and women who also served with honor.
“With his internal struggles, he felt that nobody cared,” McCammon said. “Obviously that’s not true. I’m so grateful to be a part of this.”
McCammon said that she still carries Jerry with her, as she rests her hand on a small green vial hanging around her neck. She hugs the flag to her chest as she walks away, a serene smile gracing her face as she remembers Jerry Lee.
