Missing in America Project
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1046 has committed to become an active participant of the national Missing in America project. Our Chapter will take an active role in helping to identify veterans that were not interred with the respect, recognition and dignity they deserved. This project takes on added importance when we read newspaper articles that show that our Government and Military does not always place the importance of a respectful burial that EVERY veteran deserves. As Chapter 1046 moves forward with this project we will keep you informed.
Mission Statement:
The purpose of the MIA Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. To provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes
Scope:
The initial focus of the MIA Project will be a massive, nation-wide effort to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. This task will be executed through the combined, cooperative efforts of members of the American Legion, other volunteer service and veteran organizations, local Funeral Homes, State Funeral Commissions, State and National Veterans Administration Agencies, and the State and National Veterans Cemetery Administrations. Local, state and national laws must be followed in the identification, claiming process and proper interment of the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans.
This will be a lengthy project and will require many man-hours to ensure that we have done our utmost to discover every forgotten veteran and procure each a dignified resting place. This will also be a labor of love, a task of redemption, for a debt of service that can never be repaid.
The second phase of the MIA Project will be the creation of a network of individuals working with local Funeral Homes, State, and National Agencies to ensure that, from now on, the cremated remains of any unclaimed veteran will be identified, claimed and interred in a timely manner. This will be an ongoing project and will most likely be a cooperative effort between many voluntary service organizations.
The MIA Project will be a long-term project, but not a time sensitive project.
Total Funeral Homes Visited - 1968 Cremains Found - 11820*
Veterans Cremains Identified - 1730 Veterans Interred - 1584
* 3500 of these Cremains were found in one institution
*2600 more names recently received from two funeral homes in Missouri
The Missing in America Home Page is
