ARLINGTON, Va. - May 29, 2021 - (Newswire.com)
To honor the sacrifice of fallen military heroes, Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) has launched its inaugural #TheHonorProject this Memorial Day weekend. Recognizing the challenges for families of the fallen to visit their loved one's gravesites due to COVID-19 restrictions, TMF is deploying volunteers to visit Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day weekend to pay respects for those who cannot be there in person -- ensuring that our nation's fallen heroes are not forgotten.
Families of fallen military members who have been laid to rest in Arlington can request a visit to their hero's grave. TMF has coordinated local volunteers to pay honor to their service and sacrifice over Memorial Day weekend, with the goal of honoring 4,000 heroes. Volunteers will place handcrafted, Combat-veteran, American-made Flags of Valor wooden flags at each gravesite, and public support of this program can come in the form of sponsoring a flag. Pictures of the fallen hero and their headstone will be shared via social media using the hashtag #TheHonorProject.
#TheHonorProject was born from the efforts of Emily Domenech during Memorial Day in 2020 -- her grandfather, a World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veteran, is buried in Arlington. Last year, Domenech offered on Twitter to visit the graves of those who couldn't, and her post went viral. Her only regret was that she ran out of time to visit each hero, so she reached out to TMF to help scale the commitment. TMF President Ryan Manion, whose brother, Marine 1st LT Travis Manion, is also buried in Arlington, was moved by Emily's action, so they came together to create #TheHonorProject.
"#TheHonorProject allows us to continue to connect with families of the fallen, learn the stories of their loved ones, and honor their selfless sacrifice at our nation's most hallowed grounds," says Manion. "My brother paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our country -- and while I have been fortunate enough to visit his gravesite at Arlington several times, that is not the case for everyone with loved ones buried there, especially during the pandemic. Visiting these gravesites on behalf of loved ones and paying our respects in their place is the least we can do to honor and remember the sacrifice, bravery, and courage of such a distinguished group of our nation's military heroes."
Visits to Arlington National Cemetery will take place over Memorial Day weekend. To register, submit a fallen hero, or to sponsor a flag, visit www.travismanion.org/thehonorproject.
Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) unites communities to strengthen America's national character by empowering veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop and lead future generations. In 2007, 1st Lt. Travis Manion (USMC) was killed in Iraq while saving his wounded teammates. Today, Travis' legacy lives on in the words he spoke before leaving for his final deployment, "If Not Me, Then Who..."
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: Travis Manion Foundation Honors Thousands This Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery
