Missing in America Project
Below are pictures and information on the Missing in America Project (MIAP). The pictures are from an escort and burial service held on September 19, 2008 at the Springfield Veteran's Cemetery. The remains of these heros were recovered with the help of Randy & Cindy Walters of the Memorial Chapel. I hope you enjoy learning more about this wonderful program.
A special thanks to Sue Rapone for providing the pictures.
To view a video of another ceremony in MO click here
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What is MIAP?
The missing in America Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to veterans. Their mission statement is to locate, identify and intern the unclaimed cremains of American veterans by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. This is excuted through the combined efforts of citizens, volunteer service and veteran organizations, funeral homes, state funeral commissions and state and national veterans' adminstration agencies. The Missing in America Project was launched nationwide in January 2007. MIAP was founded by Fred Salanti from Redding, California who is a disabled veteran and was a Major in the United States Army Infantry and a Viet Nam Veteran. Fred, through his involvment with conducting monthly services at national and state cemeteries for indignet veterans, stumbled across the unrecognized need to inter forgotten veterans, whose cremains have been languishing on shelves and in storage rooms across the United States for decades. The Missing in America Project has become his life mission.
As of April 2008, MIAP had 253 volunteers and approximately 120 group volunteers in 44 states. There have been 4688 cremains located with 418 funeral homes having been visited and 144 veterans identified and 109 of them interred.
MIAP National Operations
Linda Smith of Dixon, MO, who is a retired DOD, United States Navy Veteran and a Patriot Guard Rider, accepted the position of the National MIAP Operations Coordinator. Since that time she has successfully brought 11 new states on board, with state coordinators and numerous volunteers. Linda has also signed on American Legion Posts, American Legion Rider chapters, and other groups to assist with MIAP. Origionally from West Virginia, she now resides in Missouri and is the proud parent of IT1 Joseph Smith who has served in the Navy for 10 years.
In this ceremony, those remembered were
SFC (Ret) Martin E Miles & wife Ella Miles
MSG (Ret) Russell Thomas & wife Agathe Thomas
TEC4 Glenn Pargeon
SFC (Ret) John Crittenden
MERCHANT MARINE William Glunz
SGT (Ret) Kenneth Richard
SFC (Ret) Carlton King