Oregon Army National Guard Restores Veteran Gravesites in Medford

Medford, Oregon- Twenty-seven soldiers from Hotel Company, 141 Support Battalion, attached to the 1-186 Infantry Battalion, spent part of their April drill weekend cleaning headstones at the I.O.O.F. Eastwood Cemetery in Medford.

The group, based at the Medford Armory, partnered with cadets from Southern Oregon University’s ROTC program and Medford Parks and Recreation to carry out the community service project on April 13, 2025. Their work focused on restoring weathered grave markers, many belonging to veterans.

“Senior leadership in the Oregon Army National Guard emphasized the importance of getting out into the community this training year, and we wanted to make an impact on our local community,” said Capt. Jacob Wolwowicz, commander of Hotel Company. “It was important for us to do something local, within a few miles of the armory.”

Established in 1890 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Eastwood Cemetery was transferred to city ownership in the 1970s. It remains an active cemetery today, managed by Medford Parks and Recreation.

Working in teams, the soldiers cleaned moss and debris from the headstones and cleared overgrown weeds. The effort was part of a broader initiative to maintain the historic cemetery and honor those buried there.

“We respected the headstones, made sure we were gentle but also got off all the gunk,” Wolwowicz said. “These are people that lived in the community, died in the community, and these are still some people’s family members’ graves.”

The effort was coordinated by Tyson Thompson, volunteer coordinator for Medford Parks and Recreation.

“The military presence was a tremendous help,” Thompson said.

For some soldiers, the project held personal significance. Spc. Katia Ibarrera, who is working toward a career in law enforcement, described the mission as aligned with her motivations for joining the Guard.

“The thing I love about the National Guard is that it’s more community-oriented,” Ibarrera said. “I love serving my community. These are my people. I like helping out my people.”

She emphasized the value of service close to home.

“My unit came to a historic cemetery to clean up graves belonging to veterans,” she said. “We did this because we want to serve our community and focus more on the people around us.”

The Oregon Army National Guard allows service members to serve part-time while maintaining civilian careers, often in the same communities where they live.