Sonny's Halo Project

06/17/2026

When Sonny's Halo Project was first established, my goal was to place a few markers annually, focusing on the babies who had been buried and those whose graves had been lost to time.
This was initially a self-funded project, but it soon evolved into a nonprofit organization with a board of members, and we began placing markers for both babies and adults.
As we begin the process of a marker, I form a deep emotional bond with the individual and, in a sense, 'adopt' them in death.
Two of the most heart-wrenching placements we've made are those of these two individuals.
Both suffered a tragic loss of life in an accident, meeting a devastating end to their young lives.
Mercedes has a sister living in Dodge, but her mother resides elsewhere, making it difficult for her to visit her daughter's grave.
I can hardly begin to imagine the pain she endures every day, and the fact that she is unable to visit her daughter's grave at will is truly heartbreaking.
Willard, on the other hand, was buried nearly a century before his nephew finally located him. We can only speculate about the circumstances surrounding his death and the anguish his out-of-state parents must have felt upon receiving the news of their son's passing.
Fortunately, Willard's nephew and wife make it a point to visit his grave in Dodge City periodically.
This brings us joy, knowing that he has been found and is now being honored and remembered.
One of the most rewarding aspects of placing these markers is the connections we form and the friendships that develop with the family members and loved ones of those we are honoring.

Mercedes Fierro Leyva
8/27/2004-7/4/2017
Age 13 years

Willard Ray Adams
7/18/1926
Age 17 years

If you know of a grave in need of a permanent marker in Ford County, please reach out to our organization.

06/15/2026

Today, we celebrate the birthday in heaven of William Lewis Keith Jr., whose life inspired the creation of Sonny's Halo Project.
Born on June 16, 1923, and passing away on March 27, 1940, Uncle Sonny's precious life, though brief, continues to inspire making a difference for others.
Facing severe health challenges, his life was cut very short prior to his 17th birthday.
His parents (my grandparents) couldn't afford a marker at the time, and it was years later before a marker was placed.
His memory remained vibrant, thanks to a grave marker and my mother (his sister) who kept his memory alive in her heart.
Because of this, we visited his grave often and spoke of him in the home in everyday conversation.
A young man who passed years before my birth was very much like a person I would have grown up with.
This sparked a passion within me to ensure that every individual has a marked grave and a recognized identity, a vision that became a reality with the launch of Sonny's Halo Project in 2023.
Uncle Sonny's story serves as a powerful reminder that one life can be an inspiration for profound positive change, and we are forever grateful for his lasting impact.
Thank you, Uncle Sonny; you are definitely making a difference all these years later!!!
You were lost too soon, but your life mattered.
You are honored and remembered today.
If you know of a grave in need of a permanent marker in Dodge City/Ford County, please reach out to our organization for more info.

06/09/2026

Here are some photographs of several markers of our adult placements over the recent Memorial Day weekend.
Every person was once a baby, then an adult and possibly even a parent or grandparent. Every person had a mother and father.
Every person had an identity and was hopefully cherished and remembered.
This is why we do what we do, ensuring that every person is honored and respected over time and no grave is lost.
If you know of a grave in need of a permanent marker in Ford County, please reach out to our organization.
We're making a difference one grave at a time.

Isaac Newton Arnold
Anthony R. Sandoval
Henry H. Ikeda
Anna Rose Arnold
Mrs. J.H. Kelley (Nellie)
Rachel C. Everson

06/08/2026

These angel babies, who may have been born sleeping or lived for a precious few minutes, hours, or days, are loved and remembered. Here are a few images of our baby placements when we visited the graves over Memorial Day weekend.
If you know of a grave in need of a permanent marker, please reach out to our organization.
We're making a difference one grave at a time.

Baby Boy Hoyt
Micaela Shea Ge**er
Mary Elizabeth Redden
Maria De La Luz Garcia
Curtis Ray Wilson Jr
Wallace Dean McGary

05/25/2026

We honor...we remember....we thank you.

05/24/2026

05/21/2026

This vintage photograph shows my great-grandfather and great aunt visiting my great-grandmother's grave at the Fort Dodge Cemetery/Old Soldiers Home Cemetery.

The tradition of Decoration Day, which began in 1868, involved placing flowers on Civil War graves. As time passed, this custom expanded to include families decorating the graves of their loved ones as a way to pay their respects.
Despite being known as Decoration Day for over a century, the holiday was officially renamed Memorial Day in 1970, to honor those who have passed, visit the graves of loved ones, or thank living veterans. We are who we are today because of the sacrifices of those who came before us.

05/20/2026

We are extremely fortunate to be able to do what we do!!!!
We are honored and pleased to announce the placement of a permanent marker for baby boy Amaro. He passed away during childbirth 55 years ago. We can only imagine the devastating heartbreak the mother went through.
55 years without a marker, 55 years during which his memory could have been lost...
His grave can now be located for future generations of family members.
BABY BOY AMARO
2/25/1971
This is precisely why we founded Sonny's Halo Project, to provide markers for unmarked graves in our area.
This project can only be sustained with the continued support of our community. Sonny's Halo Project

04/30/2026

Since our 'small project' began in 2023, we have been blessed to set 26 permanent memorial markers for precious souls, some of whom were already lost in the passage of time.
I didn't really know where to start in 2023, but I was driven by a sense of purpose, knowing that God had placed it on my heart for several years to do something meaningful for those without markers.
Our first marker placement was for a young boy, followed by his great-aunt, and this simple project has continued to grow to our current total of placements.
Within our first year, we became a 501c3 nonprofit organization and have been humbled by the outpouring of support and trust from our community.
We were also honored to pay tribute to the 29 Souls of Prairie Grove with a dignified memorial marker in May of last year.
Each and every one of our placements holds a special place in our hearts, and we strive to honor each individual with the utmost respect and care, whether they have living loved ones or not.
If you need help locating a grave, we are here to assist you in your search. We understand that graves can become lost over time due to changes in landscaping and other factors.
If you know of a grave in need of a permanent marker in Ford County, Kansas, please do not hesitate to reach out to our organization for details.
We take pride in placing markers for babies, children, adults and Veterans, regardless of the reason why a marker was not previously issued.
For Veterans, we do ask for the family to make every effort possible to get a government issued marker, we do understand at times this may not be possible.
We have placed markers dating back to the 1800s, and our goal is to continue this meaningful work, utilizing every donation to make a lasting impact.
If you are driven to make a donation to our organization, please reach out to us for details.
Please share this posting and spread the word about Sonny's Halo Project, we're making a difference one grave at a time.

03/06/2026

We are grateful for the Spark Good local grant from Dodge City Walmart!
Walmart is definitely making a positive impact, one grant at a time.
We feel honored to have been selected for such a generous grant!!