Three Texas veterans with no known family members will receive proper military burials this December at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, continuing a solemn tradition of ensuring no service member is laid to rest alone.
The cemetery will conduct three separate Unaccompanied Veteran Burials on Friday, December 19, 2025, according to a notice from the Texas Veterans Land Board. The ceremonies, scheduled for 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m., will honor three veterans who served their country across different eras and branches of the military.
The Veterans Being Honored
Dental Technician (General) Petty Officer Third Class John C. Bowers, born June 18, 1953, served in the U.S. Navy from April 1972 to April 1974 during the Vietnam era. Bowers earned the National Defense Service Medal during his service, as records indicate.
The second veteran, Specialist 4 Mark Lee Moore, was born March 21, 1961, and dedicated nearly a decade to military service in the U.S. Army from June 1978 to February 1988. Moore’s service was recognized with multiple decorations, including the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award) and the Army Achievement Medal.
Chief Petty Officer David Alan Dunn, born December 22, 1954, had the longest military career among the three, serving in the U.S. Navy for 23 years from May 1981 to May 2004. During his extensive naval career, Dunn received numerous commendations, including the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (4th Award).
What happens when veterans pass away with no known family members? In these cases, a Veterans Land Board Representative will accept the United States flag on behalf of each veteran if no next-of-kin is present at the ceremony, cemetery officials confirmed.
About the Cemetery
The Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, which opened on December 14, 2011, sits on approximately 30 acres along Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi. The cemetery features a covered committal structure and visitor services designed specifically to honor veterans’ service.
Currently, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for approximately 2,650 veterans, according to information from Wreaths Across America, which coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ cemeteries nationwide.
The facility operates under the Texas Veterans Land Board and is located at 9974 IH 37 Access Road in Corpus Christi. Those seeking additional information can contact cemetery director Alfredo Medina at (361) 248-4830, as listed in VA cemetery directories.
“Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas’ first female Land Commissioner,” notes the Veterans Land Board website. As Land Commissioner, Buckingham oversees the state’s veterans cemetery program and has emphasized her commitment to serving Texas veterans.
The public is welcome to attend these ceremonies to pay respects to the veterans who, though they may have died without family at their side, will not be buried alone. These solemn occasions serve as a reminder of the debt owed to those who served—a debt that extends beyond their lives and into how we honor their memory.
