The exhumed remains of the soldiers will be brought to Sierra Vista next year from a long-abandoned cemetery in Tucson. Their final resting place will be among more modern veterans.
“We’re very honored that we can be the final resting place for them,” Cemetery Administrator Joe Larson said, noting the reburial occurs May 16.
  
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Larry McKim, president of the cemetery foundation, said many people have worked hard on the project, specifically pointing out Life Scout Jacob Lovorn and Mike Rutherford, president of the Southern Arizona Contractors Association.
“He raised thousands of dollars for the project,” McKim said of Lovorn, as the Boy Scout waited with others to symbolically turn a shovel of soil.
As for Rutherford, McKim said he is working with other area builders and contractors to do some of the work for free.
The state provided $25,000 for the project, and the city of Sierra Vista provided $30,000.
During the ceremony, the Rev. Greg Adolf of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church blessed the ground for the Historic Soldiers Relocation Project. Asking divine support for the area where the remains will be buried, the priest first recited two verses of “America the Beautiful,” followed by prayers and the sprinkling of the area with holy water.
Besides Lovorn, Larson, Rutherford and McKim, turning over shovels of dirt were Gov. Janet Napolitano; Maj. Gen. John Custer, commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca; Joey Strickland, director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services; Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain; and Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review Publisher Phil Vega.
Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
