12/28/2014
MIAP 2014 Activities
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Missing in America 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, respect and dignity to those who have served this country by
Securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.
In its short 7 year history, the Missing in America Project has visited more than 1,641 funeral homes, located 2365 veterans and interred 2127 veterans and their eligible dependents.
The Missing in America Project has also assisted volunteers in getting laws passed in 33 states and a Federal Law (effective Jan 14, 2014) to provide a dignified burial for ALL Unclaimed veterans and dependents cremains. These laws are designed to protect funeral homes when working with MIAP and provide a casket or urn for each unclaimed veteran or dependent.
2012 to 2014: Total number of veterans/dependents honored 1648.
2014 Total number of veterans/dependents interred with a Memorial Service: 623+ Nationwide.
Local activities include:
• Over 149 burial es**rts and services to Northern California Veterans Cemetery to Sacramento Valley Cemetery, Eagle Point Cemetery and private cemeteries.
• Providing Food for Valentine’s Day at the Redding Veterans Home and Oktoberfest with MIAP Hot dog cooker and Our Support Group Ladies, cooking and serving.
• Donating in coordination with “Victory Ensured Thru Service (Vets)” a years’ worth of money to conduct monthly Sunday brunches for all Veterans in McCloud. Set up with Produce Company to get weekly fresh vegetables for the veteran’s community in McCloud.
• Es**rting the Vietnam Traveling Wall to Yreka for display and ceremonies on “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day with the Yreka Marine Corps League and Siskiyou County Veterans Affliated Council.
• Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, Conducted a Military Honors service (March 30) for unclaimed veterans and in coordination with VVA 397 of Redding for Shasta County Veterans and MIAP unclaimed veterans.
• Camp for Life is for children who have been diagnosed with serious illnesses. They have little in their lives to laugh and enjoy at their young age. The camp is intended to give them relief from daily medical trauma and to gain the support system needed to assist them along the way.*
• Serviceman’s Feast to honor all of our military, firemen and police for their service. 5 years of serving this Christmas Dinner. Over 800 served 12/20/14
• Northern California Veterans Cemetery cooking for all workers, CCC and bands (if any), all RVH resident veterans are invited as well as any other medical needy veterans attending for Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies.
• Big Bike Weekend cooking and serving for free all Police and competitors in the bike competitions for the past 5 years. Conduct official road guarding assistance in cooperation with Redding Police Department.
• Boles Fire W**d supplied all of the food and cooked a free spaghetti dinner for all victims and police fire workers, over 110 buildings destroyed.
• Wreaths Across America Every year since 2006 MIAP has worked with this program and brought wreaths from Worchester, ME to the west coast. For the last 4 years we have provided es**rt for all of the Wreaths dedicated to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. We provide an es**rt from the NV Walmart Distribution Center to Dixon as requested.
Who is involved?
Wal-Mart Heart which is truck drivers from Wal-Mart who donate their time and efforts to children with serious illnesses and needs. They donate their time and efforts to these children and in a partnership with MIAP, we work together.
• For all feeding events with MIAP, all paper goods and special food products are donated to benefit the community.
• Contacts of the Good Will drivers has obtained us donations from other local chains who wish to stay anonymous. We get all meat, produce (fruit and vegetables. Pies and desserts, and mainstay basics to complete a balanced and healthy meal.
“Our Support Group” the workers/volunteers who set up the menu, slice and dice and get all the cooking organized and served. They create magic from packages and raw vegetables. They conduct fund raisers man our Hot Dog Stand and do the ultimate in “gopher work” that is essential to every event and organization. We cannot survive without them.
Victory Ensured thru Service is the nonprofit veterans group who has funds available locally for veteran’s activities. This allows us the money and sometimes the venue. Renting the Siskiyou County Fairgrounds for an Armed Forces Day event when there was no other way to conduct the event. Donating money to the McCloud Community Resource center for veteran’s luncheons for a year due to the large concentration of WWII/Korean veterans. Donating a large sum to the Redding Veterans Home for outdoor improvements for the residents.
AMVETS (MOJO) Post #4 who have supported us in many ways from monetary to helpers and support in putting on these events.
Cuttlefish Base Submariners who attend every funeral for our unclaimed veterans and who come to camp and present the children with honorary memberships as submariners with hats and plaques.
Redding Police Explorers/ Tehema County Explorers who assist us to prepare, setup and tear down events. Help serve food to disabled and elderly attendees at our events. Supervise and assist in the terminally ill children at “Camp for Life”. Young men and women of our communities who are learning the value of service and commitment to self and their surrounding communities.
