The cemetery is full of knowns and unknowns, many of whom died in military skirmishes in western Nebraska. As forts closed on the western frontier, the dead were brought to Fort McPherson National Cemetery for reburial. Names of many were lost to time. Many wars are represented on the tombstones.
Through the timeless efforts of the Missing in America Project, the remains of veterans are being identified, not only in Nebraska but in many other states. The purpose of the MIA project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American Veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. They provide honor and respect to those who have served our country by securing a final resting place for those forgotten heroes. The Nebraska Missing in America Project was responsible today (30 May 2014) for bringing five urns to the cemetery for burial in the columbarium.
|Half-mast flag at Fort McPherson National Cemetery|
As the flag flew at half mast, the gun salute echoed through the valley and taps sounded throughout the cemetery, there was a narrative about the five veterans They were ...
Hazel Wood 1917-2013 US Army WAC, WWII
Floyd Emil Johnson 1931-2014 US Army, Korea
Gary L. Hirschman 1952-2011 USMC, Vietnam
Charles Warner 1946-2013 US Army, Vietnam
Reginal Thomas Prim 1950-2014 US Navy, Vietnam
All of the above named veterans were lacking relatives, but they were honored by a multitude of people who became self-proclaimed relatives, even for a small period of time. They gave their lives that all of us could be present to pay respect to them, but also to all of those buried in the cemetery ... the known and the unknown. May they all rest in peace.