Resurrection: The Quest to Restore and Honor a Neglected Military Cemetery

This compendium documents the history, decline, and restoration of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery (MINC), the oldest naval cemetery on the Pacific Coast. Established in 1856 and containing more than 860 veterans—including four Medal of Honor recipients—the cemetery fell into decades of neglect following reductions in Navy stewardship and the 1996 BRAC closure of Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Drawing on archival research, historical analysis, and first‑person involvement, the authors trace the grassroots movement that mobilized veterans, citizens, federal agencies, and elected officials to restore the cemetery and secure its transfer to the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2023. The work situates MINC within the broader legacy of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, explores the legal and bureaucratic obstacles that hindered preservation, and highlights the civic coalition that ultimately ensured the cemetery’s protection as a national shrine.