FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2022

National Service and Veterans Organizations Join Forces to Expand #TheHonorProject Activating Volunteers to Honor Fallen Military Heroes

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Travis Manion Foundation, one of the nation’s leading veteran service organizations, and AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced today a renewed partnership to encourage Americans to volunteer and serve in honor of our fallen military heroes this Memorial Day. To honor their sacrifice, the organizations have expanded #TheHonorProject initiative, activating volunteers to stand in for military families of the fallen unable to pay their respects to their loved ones in person for Memorial Day.

Through #TheHonorProject, families of fallen service members and battle buddies request a personal visit to their fallen hero. On Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, volunteers personally visit and place a handcrafted memento at each hero's interment location, paying their respects and pausing to reflect on the sacrifices of those service members.

The Honor Project volunteers will visit heroes at seven national cemeteries including: Jacksonville National Cemetery (Jacksonville, Fla.); Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, Calif.); Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery (Fort Leavenworth, Kan.), Fort Logan National Cemetery (Fort Logan, Colo.); Washington Crossing National Cemetery (Bucks County, Penn.); Arlington National Cemetery; and a private ceremony at West Point National Cemetery (West Point, NY). 

“It is our duty to pause to reflect on the sacrifices of our nation’s service members each Memorial Day,” said Ryan Manion, President, Travis Manion Foundation. “We are proud to be working with AmeriCorps to expand The Honor Project and stand in for those unable to visit their loved ones. Our veterans, military families of the fallen and civilian volunteers are motivated to honor more heroes, to learn their stories and remember their selfless sacrifice at our nation’s most hallowed grounds.” 

Through its service programs, AmeriCorps has the dual privilege of serving veterans and creating new opportunities for them to serve. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve the needs of veteran and military communities across the country and offer ways for them to continue their service in their own communities, with more than 20,000 former servicemembers joining the AmeriCorps ranks each year. On Armed Forces Day, AmeriCorps senior advisor for veteran and military families Mary Tobin joined the Travis Manion Foundation and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to support #TheHonorProject.

“This Memorial Day, we are grateful to partner with the Travis Manion Foundation to give our fellow Americans an opportunity to celebrate the lives of our fallen heroes and honor their sacrifice,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO. “We look forward to continuing this effort to unite our country through service.” 

For more information about #TheHonorProject, 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, 1stLt 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..." Guided by this mantra, veterans continue their service, develop strong relationships with their communities, and thrive in their post-military lives by serving as character role models to youth. As a result, communities prosper and the character of our nation’s heroes lives on in the next generation. For more information, please visit www.travismanion.org.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests more than $800 million in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.