Spanish-American War Veterans Honored and Remembered during Veterans Day

EUREKA (KIEM) – Over at the Myrtle Grove Memorial Cemetery, American flags marked the graves of over 200 veterans. But the event also focused on the Spanish-American War veterans that are buried on site.     

William Diffendoffer, Edward Ebaugh, William Flint, Joseph Gephart, Percy James, And Charles Johnson all lived in Humboldt County. The six soldiers fought during the Spanish-American War. The Myrtle Grove Memorial Cemetery was established back in 1861 and is Eureka’s first organized burial ground.

Milt Phegley, a returning volunteer says, he continues to return to the site because of the deep connection it has to his family.

The cemetery is also the burial site for Civil War, Indian Wars, and both World War I and World War II veterans.