Honors At Arlington Updates

August - November 2008 - Missing In America Project begins preparation for the "Honors At Arlington" Ride. This ride will escort the cremains of two Silver Star recipients from Sacramento, CA to Arlington National Cemetery. The ride will leave Sacramento, CA on May 21, 2009 and arrive Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2009.

January 10, 2009 - The Buffalo Soldiers MC, in conjunction with Chester's Harley Davidson, held a motorcycle event to raise funds for the Cpl. Isaiah Mays Memorial Fund. The funds raised by the event are intended to commission the creation of a monument honoring Cpl. Mays and the "Buffalo Soldiers", and their contribution to American history. Members of the Old Guard Riders rode in support of this fund raising effort. The monument is still in the fund raising stage and awaiting legislative approval for placement in the Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, across from the Arizona State Capital building.

January 15, 2009 - Chaz Jackson, President of the Buffalo Soldiers MC, asked Ron Eppich, President of Old Guard Riders Inc. to assist in getting Cpl. Mays exhumed from the Arizona State Hospital "All Souls" Cemetery, which is currently little more than an inaccessible vacant lot, surrounded by a high, locked chain link fence in downtown Phoenix. The unfortunate history of the "All Souls" Cemetery can be found online.

January 23, 2009 - Old Guard Riders consulted with officials at the Arizona National Memorial Cemetery to begin the process of interring Cpl. Mays within Arlington National Cemetery.

MIAP Director Fred Salanti was contacted to arrange for Cpl. Mays to be included in the Honors At Arlington ride if we can get Cpl Mays exhumed and all arrangements completed in time.

Week of January 25, 2009 - Christina Duwel, Old Guard Riders Board Member and AZ State MIAP Coordinator, contacted John Cooper, the Director of the Arizona State Hospital, regarding removing Cpl. Mays from hospital property. Mr. Cooper requested a Court Order to do so.

January 30, 2009 - Ron & Lea Eppich, Founders of the OGR, traveled to the State Capital to approach AZ State Representative Jerry Weiers, AZ State Senator John Nelson, and Gov. Janet Brewer concerning support for Cpl. Isaiah Mays removal and a monument to Cpl. Mays and Buffalo Soldiers within Wesley Bolin Park. Progress on legislation is still pending.

February 2, 2009 - Christina Duwel files affidavits on behalf of herself and the Missing in America Project with Pinal County Court to exhume Isaiah Mays from the Arizona State Hospital cemetery. As jurisdiction would ultimately rest with Maricopa County Superior Court, Pinal County refused to hear the matter.

February 9, 2009 - Fred Salanti, Founder/Director of MIAP, sent a large packet of information regarding Cpl. Mays to Arlington National Cemetery preparatory to confirmation of Cpl. Isaiah Mays interment within Arlington. Corporal Mays is to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. (contingent upon a court order to exhume Cpl. Mays from the Arizona State Hospital cemetery.)

February 14, 2009 - Trip Itinerary from Apache Junction, AZ to Arlington National Cemetery, with arrangements to meet the MIAP Funeral Escort in Topeka, KS, was confirmed. Hotel arrangements are being confirmed to ensure accommodations enroute.

Members of the Old Guard Riders visit with members of the 10th Memorial Cavalry at historic Fort Verde, AZ

Feb. 18, 2009 - Christina Duwel, Old Guard Riders Board Member and AZ State MIAP Coordinator, files affidavits on behalf of herself and the Missing in America Project with Maricopa County Superior Court to exhume Isaiah Mays from the Arizona State Hospital cemetery.

February 21, 2009 - OGR members met with members of the Ninth Memorial Cavalry, a group of dedicated individuals keeping the memory and history of the Buffalo Soldiers alive by reenacting their lifestyle at scheduled public events. As members of the OGR and MIAP move forward with the Isaiah Mays re-interment, we are absolutely committed to the highest standards of integrity and transparency in our intent and actions , and openly solicit the approval and cooperation of everyone concerned. Thank you, 9th & 10th Memorial Cavalry, for you support of our efforts on Cpl. Mays' behalf.

March 5, 2009 - Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kongable issued a Court Order authorizing Old Guard Riders Inc., as representatives of the Missing In America Project, to exhume Cpl. Isaiah Mays from the property of the Arizona State Hospital cemetery. Representatives from OGR and MIAP made a personal visit to the Arizona State Hospital to hand deliver the court order to Hospital Director John Cooper. Mr. Cooper was unable to receive the delegation. The court order will be delivered by certified mail.

While visiting the State Hospital, members of the delegation were approached by many hospital staff members offering their support of the Cpl. Mays effort. Several staff members stated that it was the opinion of the hospital staff, generally, that Cpl. Mays' move to Arlington was "long overdue."

Additional certified copies of the court order have been faxed or overnight expressed to all other necessary parties, including Arlington National Cemetery.

March 6, 2009 - Fred Salanti forwarded a copy of the court order to exhume Cpl. Mays to Arlington. Upon receipt of the court order, Arlington will now forward a "Confirmation Letter" verifying Cpl. Mays interment schedule within Arlington.

Christina Duwel and Ron Eppich begin detailed scheduling and planning of the removal of Cpl. Mays from the Arizona State Hospital site.

March 10, 2009 - The 26 pound, ornate urn for Isaiah Mays arrives in Apache Junction, AZ. Laser engraving of the urn will commence ASAP.

March 16, 2009 - All required parties have signed off on the permit to exhume Cpl Mays. All legal prerequisites to exhume Isaiah Mays from the Arizona State Hospital have now been completed. Cpl. Mays will be exhumed on March 19 - 20.

March 19 - 20, 2009 - Cpl Mays is exhumed from the grounds of the Arizona State Hospital. Volunteers excavated an area roughly 10'X10' to a depth of approximately 7'. Volunteers found a heavy concentration of "quicklime" around the immediate body area, resulting in severe deterioration of the body. In light of the effects of the quicklime, sufficient amounts of Cpl. Mays' body were recovered and were removed for cremation in preparation of his journey to Arlington.

News coverage of this historic event was tremendous. Over 15 television news segments were aired over the two day excavation period. Phoenix news channels 5, 10, 12 and 15, as well as several journalist and newspaper reporters were present.

March 19, 2009 - Mike Sublette, renowned laser artist, received the urn of Cpl. Mays to begin preparation.

Photos of the exhumation of Cpl Mays are posted on the OGR Photo Gallery. To see the pictures, go to the Photo Gallery of this website.

April 3, 2009 - Old Guard Riders Funeral Escort Team confirmed ride itinerary and all ride assignments completed.

ALL riders joining the "Honors At Arlington" Escort must coordinate with the OGR Escort Funeral Team Sgt-At-Arms to receive their ride assignments. ALL ride assignments are final.

The Funeral Service will be at Arlington national Cemetery on May 29, 2009 at 3pm

Fuel stops will be scheduled every 100 miles or less to accommodate small gas tanks.

April 21,2009 - In response to an inquiry about a metal identification tag that was rumored to be on the body of Isaiah Mays when he was interred in the Arizona State Hospital, Ron Eppich gave the following reply.

As you might recall from our conversation at the Iwo Jima/ Ira Hays Memorial early this year, the removal of Isaiah Mays from the grounds of the State Hospital was anticipated to be a very broad excavation with a myriad of unknown factors involved. When the excavation was complete, it was even more difficult than we had anticipated.

I will state emphatically from the onset that while we did discover humans remains within the boundaries of the area an affidavit by the State Hospital stated CPL Mays would be in, we did not discovered any metal objects within the grave area. This, in spite of the fact that we used metal detectors, screens and other excavation techniques.

1.) The information concerning the presence of a name tag was erroneous. Extensive research and interviews with hospital officials and staff reveal that there is, in fact, no evidence that such name tags were ever used. All records concerning the cemetery operation and occupancy were destroyed in a hospital fire in 1935. There are no living witnesses as to the burial practices of the hospital at the time of Isaiah's burial. There may never have been name tags, contrary to our original information.

2.) The badly decomposed remains of Isaiah Mays were commonly found encrusted within deposits of lime. Lime, when mixed with water, forms a very caustic substance called "quick lime." The cemetery was watered by means of irrigation flooding. As a result of the almost total deterioration of Cpl Mays' remains, his remains were found over a broad area within the excavation area, including both area and depth. Larger, heavier pieces of remains were found at a depth of nearly seven feet. It is possible that either the name tag was badly eroded by the caustic action of the quick lime or , as the body deteriorated as the result of the quick lime, the tag became separated from the scattered remains which we recovered.

3.) We were given two days in which to exhume Isaiah Mays and return the cemetery to its original condition. It is possible that, within the time constraint we had to work within, we were unable to locate all of the remains with the grave area, including the name tag.

Our interview with historians and senior hospital staff seem to indicate that the first answer is most likely. We were told that the number of patients at the hospital during any given time was relatively small and that patients would most likely have been known by name on sight by staff. No name tags would have been required.

No "patient" graves within the cemetery were ever marked with the deceased name, only a number etched on a simple brick marker. If the hospital was not concerned about placing a "name" marker on the surface of the grave, why would they have been concerned about placing a name tag on the buried corpse? After all, these were outcast victims of society, insane, ill or indigent and unable to provide for their own burial.

Like everyone else, I deeply hoped to find some definitive piece of evidence that would have conclusively identified Isaiah. Christina Duwel, as the on-site medical examiner, is confident that we recovered remains consistent with those of CPL. Isaiah Mays.

Based of the State Hospital affidavit, which established the general location of CPL Mays, and as the remains discovered within the site, as identified by a medial examiner, are consistent with those which would be expected based upon all pertinent factors, we are confident that the actual remains of Isaiah Mays were recovered and will be interred with in Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2009.

April 23, 2009 - CPL Isaiah Mays is honored at the Ft Huachuca Army Command in conjunction with the dedication of the new Buffalo Soldier Legacy Plaza just outside the Post Administration building.

Dignitaries included the Honorable Ronald J James, Assistant Secretary of the Army; MAJ GEN John M Custer, Commanding General; COL Melissa Sturgeon, Post Commander, Mrs Joan Way, Southwest Buffalo Soldier Assoc.: and Ronald S Eppich, Founder/Pres. Old Guard Riders Inc.

Our thanks to the officers and soldiers of Ft Huachuca for their graciousness and hospitality.

See the Sierra Vista Herald articles on both the dedication ceremony and CPL Isaiah Mays

Our best wishes to GEN Custer as he assumes his new command at Fort Belvoir, Va.
See the Sierra Vista Herald article concerning his departure at;

April 27, 2009 - Ron Eppich contacted Col Klosky, Executive Officer to Assistant Secretary of the Army Ronald James, concerning possible promotion of CPL Mays to rank of SGT based on reception of the Medal of Honor.

On May 29, Col Klosky contacted Ron back regarding Isaiah Mays promotion. Col Klosky indicated that Cpl Mays was not eligible for promotion to Sgt based solely upon reception of the Medal of Honor. Cpl Mays might have been eligible for promotion to Sgt based upon his military service AND his Medal of Honor had he remained on active duty until his next promotion opportunity.

Col Klosky advised that Cpl Mays may be eligible for meritorious promotion to SGT by Congressional Promotion Review Request. Meritorious promotion by Congressional Promotion Review Request would not affect Isaiah Mays' Arlington interment as a Cpl, as the review and subsequent decision would take much longer than required to get his Arlington headstone changed should he be meritoriously promoted.

Congressional Promotion Review Request has been initiated in hopes that Cpl Mays will be promoted to SGT in time to reflect his promotion on the Isaiah Mays/Buffalo Soldier Monument to be placed near the Arizona State Capital.

Isaiah Mays is one of only eight Medal of Honor recipients listed as being residents of Arizona.

May 8, 2009 - Ronald S Eppich, President of Old Guard Riders, was a guest of JD Hayworth on KFYI Radio Station. Thanks to JD for his support of all veterans, and CPL Isaiah Mays and the "Honors At Arlington" mission.

May 21, 2009 - Members of the Arizona OGR Funeral Escort Team departed Phoenix, AZ to join the main body of the "Honors At Arlington" Escort in Green River, Utah. From there, the OGR Funeral Escort Team will complete the mission of delivering CPL Mays to Arlington National Cemetery.

May 22, 2009 - Bud Thieme, Old Guard Riders Oregon State Coordinator and MIAP member, riding to Arlington with the Sacramento Funeral Escort Team, sent the following link to photo website where pictures of the Arlington trip are being posted.

May 25, 2009 - Excellent article in Topeka Capital Journal newspaper in Topeka, Kansas concerning the Honors At Arlington ride as the riders stop over in Topeka on Sunday night.

May 27, 2009 - The combined MIAP/OGR National Funeral Escort Teams arrived in Arlington, Va. exactly as scheduled. Isaiah Mays and his fellow heroes are only 48 hours from receiving their "Honors At Arlington."

May 29, 2009 - CPL. Isaiah Mays is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The service for Isaiah Mays began with a beautiful eulogy at the Old Post Chapel. In spite of pouring rain, the Old Post Chapel was filled to overflowing with riders, dignitaries and guests. Following services at the chapel, everyone was invited to follow the Arlington National Cemetery Honor Guard, with Isaiah Mays, to the grave site. Ron Eppich, Lea Eppich and Jamie Thomas, founders of Old Guard Riders Inc., were honored to sit as Isaiah's next of kin. Following the rifle volley and taps, Ron Eppich, President of Old Guard Riders, received the Isaiah's flag from the Honor Guard.

The Casket flag presented to Ron Eppich during the Arlington Services will be formally presented to Christina Duwel in a later ceremony.

Additional casket flags were given to MIAP, Old Guard Riders Inc., International Brotherhood of Buffalo Soldiers MC, AZ Buffalo Soldiers MC, the Ninth Memorial Cavalry and the Buffalo Soldiers Museum.

July 2, 2009 - A very nice news clip about Isaiah Mays and Honors At Arlington

July 3,2009 - Medal of Honor recipient present at CPL Mays funeral identified.

Special Thanks to FedEx Ground and Arizona State Dept of Veterans Services for donating the funds necessary to complete the Arlington mission.

Special Thanks to all of the volunteers who came out to assist the Missing In America Project and the Old Guard Riders in exhuming CPL. Isaiah Mays in preparation of his interment in Arlington National Cemetery on May 29, 2009.

Special thanks to United Rental, Sam Storm (Mgr), for donating the use of their backhoe.

Special thanks to Officers Lou Manganiello and Dave Hopkins of the Phoenix Police Department for their tireless efforts in assisting to exhume Cpl. Mays.

Special thanks again to Officers Lou Manganiello and Dave Hopkins, as President and Vice President, respectively, of Phoenix Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #2, for their deep commitment to the MIAP/OGR.

Special thanks to Phoenix News Channel 5, 10, 12, 15 and all the staff and reporters of all the news media who came to make our cause a matter of public record.

Thanks to John C. Cooper, CEO, Arizona State Hospital, Lt Randy Hoover and the staff of Arizona State Hospital for their cooperation and hospitality in removing Cpl. Mays.