WWI Veteran Lost at Sea Memorialized at Oak Ridge Cemetery

SPRINGFIELD - Today the Veterans Memorial Foundation (VMF), the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) and Staab Funeral Home remember a special World War I veteran lost at sea. A marker now stands at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Block 31, Lot 175, Grave 1 in Springfield, Illinois to memorialize the bravery of Otto Harrison Evans.

"Our veterans deserve a place to be remembered for their immense sacrifice and commitment to our country. It is long past due to memorialize men like Otto Harrison Evans who sadly were lost at sea, but still remain constants in our minds and hearts," said Acting Director Terry Prince of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Otto Harrison Evans was lost at sea along with the other members of the USS Cyclops. These brave individuals were never found after boarding the boat en route to Baltimore from a Brazilian port. It is assumed that the USS Cyclops disappeared somewhere in the West Indies.

"The Veterans Memorial Foundation has been honored to work together with IDVA & the Staab Funeral Home to bring long overdue recognition to WWI Navy Veteran, CM1 Otto Harrison Evans," said Joe Schaler, Chairman of the Veterans Memorial Foundation. "May his sacrifice while serving our country always be remembered."

"Since 1927, The Staab Family has served our Veterans In Honor," said PJ Staab of Staab Funeral Homes. "With distinct privilege and high honor, we are humbled to assist the Otto Harrison Evans Family. In support of the Illinois Gold Star Mission, the Staab Family provides healthy ways To Remember Our Past, To Educate Our Present and To Heal Our Families in partnership with IDVA and VMF."

Otto Harrison Evans was the only shipmate of the USS Cyclops to have no memorial site to recognize him at a national or private cemetery. With loving support of his family, he will now be known with a memorial established in his name.