Honoring the Fallen: Local Veterans Clear Weeds, Restore Dignity at Fortuna’s Sunrise Cemetery

VFW Post Quartermaster, Martin Morris trims grass away from veterans graves [Photos provided by Enoch Ibarra]

On Saturday, May 3, veterans from Fortuna’s American Legion Post 205 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2207, along with members of their auxiliaries, gathered at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna for a community Day of Service. Their purpose was to honor local veterans buried there by trimming grass and removing weeds from grave markers that had become overgrown.

One of many apparently forgotten US veterans graves at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna, [Photo provided by Enoch Ibarra]

David Eberhardt, a member of VFW Post 2207, voiced his concern about the state of the cemetery. Voice softened with disappointment, he said, “It’s a real shame that their sacrifice is forgotten, and that their graves are so hidden by weeds that they are forgotten.”

The cleanup was part of the national VFW Day of Service, now in its fourth year, which takes place annually on the first Saturday in May. Launched by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2022, the Day of Service is an extension of the organization’s #StillServing campaign and highlights the continued commitment of veterans to their communities after active duty has ended.

“For the past three years, thousands of VFW members and veterans around the world have joined together for the VFW Day of Service, showcasing the myriad ways they are #StillServing,” said VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt in a statement. “We are excited to see Day of Service 2025 grow even larger from previous years, deepening our reach and making a stronger impact in the communities we serve.”

VFW Post member, Vietnam veteran and silver star recipient, John Morrison, is one of the many local veterans helping to honor the sacrifice of the veterans interred at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna. [Photo provided by Enoch Ibarra]

He was one of many volunteers—veterans and spouses—who spent the day working to reveal the names and preserve the dignity of those laid to rest.

Among them was John Morrison, a Vietnam veteran and Silver Star recipient, who was seen working to clean the graves of fellow servicemembers. VFW Post Quartermaster Martin Morris was also on hand, carefully trimming around headstones.

One of the many graves cleaned by local veterans. [Photo provided by Enoch Ibarra]

Some of the markers uncovered during the cleanup appeared to have been forgotten entirely, buried beneath years of unchecked growth.

Saturday’s effort in Fortuna was just one of many veteran-led community service projects taking place across the country this month, underscoring a growing movement to recognize that for many, military service doesn’t end with a discharge—it continues in neighborhoods and communities, one act of care at a time.

Note: This article has been updated to correct an earlier statement that inaccurately identified Morrison as a Silver Star recipient. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion.