WICHITA FALLS, Texas—It had been more than 20 years since Linda Miller spent a moment at her son Eddie Hogue’s grave.

Not for lack of wanting, though; time and Texas’ traveling topsoil had covered the modest marker on his final resting place in the Wichita County Cemetery.

“I knew generally where it was, but everything out here was covered up,” said Miller, surrounded by tall, sturdy men in Air Force camo. “That’s why it meant so much to me that these boys came out here to help find it.”

In March, community volunteers, local veterans and Sheppard Air Force Base personnel from the 361st and 362nd training squadrons came together for a cleanup day at the cemetery.

With scores of grave markers, most no bigger than 10 inches by 12 inches, sunk by erosion, a group of airmen took up the challenge of finding them.

“We just walked along with a metal rod, picked a spot, pushed down and hoped we’d hit something,” said Staff Sgt. John McInnes. “It’s hard to believe, but some of the markers were about a foot down.”

With each discovery, the shovels came out to reveal another name. Miller had come that day to help serve lunch to the volunteers and hopefully find Eddie. She led the prayer when lunch was served to the volunteers and later told Airman 1st Class Alexander Walker and Airman Jordon Horton of her search.

One of the young airmen remembered digging up her son’s name plate.

On a windy April day, Hogue’s spot stands out.

For officers who took part in the effort, it meant something just as special.