On Saturday, May 11th, 2002,one hundred Marines from the U. S. Marine Support Group at Naval Air Technical Training Command cleaned the cemetery from one end to the other , collecting almost 900 55-gallon bags of leaves. The operation was coordinated by Capt. Ray Rich, USMC, and 1st SGT Doyle Braddy, USMC. Superintendent Jim Smith of St. John’s commented “these young people really worked very hard using rakes and bags supplied by ‘Friends’ The cemetery hasn’t looked this good in years.” Letters of appreciation were sent to the Marines.

The Marines also did voluntary work at St. John’s in 2001.