SIERRA VISTA — It was an appropriately quiet afternoon Saturday.

Only the sounds of flagpole lanyards (on which the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard service flags flew) were heard as they hit their tethering staffs. The fluttering of numerous American flags were part of an honor cordon and could be seen by the distant traffic moving along Buffalo Soldier Trail.

More than 200 people showed up at the eighth Missing in America Project (MIAP) held in Sierra Vista, during which forgotten veterans are laid to rest.

Ron Swager, the son of a World War II veteran, and his wife were present wanted to ensure Ron’s father Harold received military honors.

“So we asked and were given permission to be part of the ceremony,” Swager said.

Ron’s wife Wendy said the old soldier’s wife wanted to be buried with him, speaking of Harold and Alice-Fredika Swager.

The soldier who served in the Signal Corps during World War II died in 2000 when he was 88 and his wife died at the age of 95 in 2013, Swager said.

But the other 11, whose cremains were put into niches, were those found through the MIAP.

Ed Torres, the southern Arizona MIAP coordinator, said that since the organization began bringing cremains to the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery over the past five years, 150 unclaimed GIs have been put to rest. And, a few of their spouses have been buried as well, in the state-operated veterans cemetery in Sierra Vista.

Representatives of the services in which the veterans served — soldiers, sailors and Marines — carried the urns and placed them on a table at the cemetery’s amphitheater stage, next to a bell which was rung for each one, as their names were read.

A ceremonial folding of three American flags was performed, which each one presented to someone who knew the honorees, including the son of Harold Swager.

A rifle salute volley was fired and “Taps” was sounded by a Fort Huachuca Army bugler, who held the last of the 24 notes as it slowly faded way.

After his parents were laid to rest in their niche, the younger Swager said the ceremony was “respectful and organized and each branch of the military performed very well.”

Following is the list of those honored at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Saturday:

• Seaman Reed Abrahmson, 86, Navy, World War II.

• Seaman Recruit John Bouman, 70, Navy, Vietnam-era.

• Petty Officer 3rd Class James Carr, 88, Navy, World War II.

• Private 1st Class Tony Horn, 56, Marine Corps, Cold War.

• Specialist 4 Robert Leonard, 73, Army, Vietnam Era.

• Seaman Robert Morgan, 68, Navy, Vietnam Era.

• Petty Officer 3rd Class Greg Phillips, 68, Cold War.

• Sergeant 1st Class Bobby Ritchey, 69, Army, Vietnam War.

• Private Jesse Salas, 73, Army, Vietnam Era.

• Petty Officer 3rd Class Carl Sears, 66, Navy, Vietnam War.

• Seaman Frank Shields, 75, Navy, Vietnam Era.

• Technician 3 Harold Swager, 88, Army, World War II and his 95-year-old wife, Alicia-Fredika Swager.

original article – Sierra Vista Herald