No One Left Behind: A Veteran's Tribute to the Unclaimed
Since it began in 2011, Run to Tahoma has stood as a heartfelt tribute to unclaimed veterans identified by the Kitsap County Coroner—brave individuals who served our nation with honor, yet faced their final journey without family to stand beside them. This event ensures they are never forgotten, and that their service is remembered with the dignity they deserve. The ceremony was created to ensure these heroes were not forgotten, giving them a respectful farewell and a place of honor at Tahoma National Cemetery.

This Veteran-led event unites our community—local leaders, service members, and citizens—in a meaningful act of remembrance. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, the Medical Examiner's Office, the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, Combat Veterans International, the City of Port Orchard, and the heartfelt involvement of hundreds of local veterans, the ceremony has grown into a cherished tradition. It stands as a powerful expression of gratitude and reflection, honoring the sacrifices made by our veterans for the freedoms we hold dear.

Honoring the Journey: How It All Began
The roots of The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma stretch back to 2008, when Mike Carroll, a founding member of the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, read a story that changed everything. It told of unclaimed veterans' remains in Missouri—men and women who had served but were forgotten. Compelled to act, Carroll contacted the Kitsap County Coroner and discovered six such veterans here at home.

On October 2, 2008, in the chill of a rainy morning, a small group of veterans and community members gathered to escort those six heroes to their final resting place. What began as a quiet, heartfelt mission would become a lasting legacy.

By 2011, the event was formally named The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma II, and a guiding resolution was adopted: the ceremony would only be held when there is an unclaimed veteran in need of this final act of honor.

A Year of Peace, A Promise Kept
The ceremony will not be held in 2025. The absence of the 2025 ceremony is a sign of something profoundly good—that no veteran was left without someone to remember them. In a way, it speaks to the dedication of the Medical Examiner's office staff, power of connection, of family and community stepping forward, and of a promise fulfilled.

Still, for those who have stood in salute, ridden in the procession, or quietly offered thanks from the roadside, the spirit of Run to Tahoma lives on. It reminds us of our shared responsibility: to honor those who serve, not just in grand ceremonies, but in our daily acts of remembrance and gratitude.  Regardless of whether you can participate or not, all veterans are encouraged to remember our fallen veterans during the Memorial Day weekend.

To learn more or stay informed about future Run to Tahoma ceremonies, please call the Kitsap County Veterans Program Coordinator, Stephen Corcoran by phone at 360.337.4811.

Recording of the 2015 Run to Tahoma:

2015 Documentary