Mare Island Cemetery petition signed by 37,600

VALLEJO — As of Tuesday afternoon, some 37,600 people from across the United States have signed a petition asking the federal government to retake responsibility for the badly decaying Mare Island Cemetery.

It’s part of a year-long effort to right what its champions feel is a serious wrong done to the military personnel and others buried there. It’s the oldest military cemetery on the West Coast.

The petition was started by retired U.S. Army officer Nestor Aliga, after the problem was brought to his attention when a retired Naval captain discovered the problem on a day trip to Vallejo’s defunct Naval Shipyard last year.

Aliga, a Vallejo resident, said he remains hopeful that something positive will come of this effort.

The petition reads, in part, “We respectfully request the Executive Branch, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David J. Shulkin, to honor the military service of our Nation’s Veterans by re-possessing/assuming ownership of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery by Fiscal Year 2020.

“The Mare Island Naval Cemetery is a national shrine but its deplorable condition is a shocking disgrace to the honorable service, uncommon valor, and selfless sacrifice of our courageous Veterans buried there and, even worse, to the dignity our great Nation.”

The petition can be found at