Fort Sill National Cemetery Asking For Support For Unclaimed Vets

The Fort Sill National Cemetery near Lawton, Oklahoma has asked for community members to come together and celebrate the lives of a few unclaimed veterans that they will be laying to rest on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. Those who are interested don't need to register or sign up for anything; simply arrange plans to be there for those who've served our country.

According to a Facebook post, two veterans are expected to be laid to rest tomorrow, Specialist 5 Larry D. Carfield from the United States Army and Sergeant Michael Moore from the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

Calls for community support for unclaimed veterans in Oklahoma are unfortunately not uncommon.

Unclaimed veterans unfortunately do not have family, friends or legal gaurdians that are able to claim their remains. According to the Fort Sill National Cemetery website, usually a veteran goes unclaimed when next of kin and others cannot be located. In this case, Veteran organizations and community members come together to make sure that veterans can still see a proper diginified burial.

@dropzonedistilling I have no words knowing these men who served our country are being buried today with no friends or family.. #veteran #veteranfunerals #copsoftiktok #firefighter #82ndairborne #paratroopers #dropzone #knoxvilletennesseedistilleries #vfl #cops #dropzonedistilling #backtheblue #iraqwarveteran #vietnam #vietnamveterans #shinetok #veteranownedsmallbusiness ♬ If I Would Have Known - Kyle Hume

Unfortunately, there are numerous cases across the nation of unclaimed veterans having no family or friends to attend their services and pay respects. Recent research estimates that there were 20, 298 unclaimed veterans awaiting burial in 2023.

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Since Oklahoma is home to two of only 156 national cemeteries across the country, it is not uncommon to receive requests like this from the community.

Find like-minded veteran supporters through special groups.

Any and everyone can pay their respects tomorrow morning. Several groups like the Freedom Riders make it a point to attend services for unclaimed veterans at the cemetery, so don't feel as though you have to attend alone.

The Fort Sill National Cemetery is located at 2648 NE Jake Dunn Rd
Elgin, OK 73538. Please arrive early enough to find available parking.

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