All across America, in large cities, suburbs, and rural towns, the watchful eye can spot war memorials honoring our veteran ancestors. Some are dedicated to a specific war or troop, and others provide a running list of town veterans or those who lost their lives serving our country. These not-so-known memorials most often display veteran’s names, but some are structures of “salute” inviting the community to learn more about local troops. Check out these few highlighted Kansas City memorials on Can You List Your Area Memorials? Another wonderful celebration of veterans is The Final Salute held in Des Moines, IA. We most recently shared the exciting work of Salus Populi in Missouri.
The Eternal Valor Network - A Consortium
Tracing Ancestors, a 501c3 organization, has recently learned that, with great, intent and purpose, each of the organizations are working in isolation. So, Tracing Ancestors has established The Eternal Valor Network (EVN) - a collaborative initiative dedicated to preserving the memory and honoring the military service of unclaimed Veterans and local fallen Veterans.
EVN, a Tracing Ancestors Project brings together coroners, medical examiners, funeral homes, Veteran organizations, and local cemeteries to ensure no Veteran is forgotten. We believe, not only should military history be preserved, but veterans must be honored.
This coordinated consortium streamlines the process of identifying unclaimed veterans' remains, providing dignified burials, memorials, and celebrations to commemorate their service. Through partnerships with local communities, state agencies, and Veteran advocacy groups, the Eternal Valor Network embraces our communities' shared responsibility to honor those who served.
Preparing for Inaugural Event
Tracing Ancestors will host the inaugural Eternal Valor Network event Spring 2025. This gathering will equip EVN partners with resources and feature an inspiring lineup of keynote speakers, including:
- Lanae Strovers, The Final Salute
- Michelle Cook and Riley Sutherland, Missouri United States Colored Troops (USCT) Salus Populi Project
- Lori Berdak Miller, genealogist and military researcher from the National Archives in St. Louis, representing Redbird Research
- Lyle Gibson: (tentative) Veteran Air Force, Genealogist / Filmmaker
Thanks to your donations, Tracing Ancestors is on track to funding our EVN Inaugural Event. If you wish to donate, here's the link: Eternal Valor Network Be sure to check out Tracing Ancestors 2024 Successes.
Kathleen Brandt
President of TracingAncestors.org
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