Tribute held for fallen service members from Buchanan High School

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fallen service members from Buchanan High School were honored on Friday. Since 2004, the school has lost eight young men, who were serving our country. That's more than any other high school in the state and possibly the country.

One by one, staff members laid flowers on the graves of eight fallen service members, all who attended Buchanan High School. There were emotional moments shared as the staff -- including Principal Ricci Ulrich -- quietly reflected on the lives lost, all too soon.

"It's a continual reminder, we have a memorial garden at the campus, and we intend to keep them in our memories, and this is just another way to pay tribute to each and every one of them," said Ulrich.

Twenty-four hours before the flowers were set on the graves, they adorned the Buchanan High graduation ceremony. While the event was a milestone, the school also took time to pause and remember the lives of the young men, who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"You could hear a pin drop. It's surreal and you watch one dove at a time being released in honor of each of the boys," said Kathy Zamora, who has been the office manager at Buchanan for 18 years.

Zamora has been putting flowers on the gravestones, the day after graduation, for the past several years.

"I'm honored to be able to do this, I'm honored to be able to pay tribute to boys, to young men that have given their lives in order to protect us and to keep us safe," said Zamora.

A solemn remembrance that still pulls on the hearts of many.

"Never forget, never forget," said Ulrich.

A token of appreciation for those that paid the ultimate price.