A SALUTE TO AN EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATION
I am honored to render this salute to a very special organization,
The Missing In America Project.
Photos Credits: Sean Verma "The Vermanator" - MIAP Supporter
I took off from work on Friday and headed
toward Washington, DC to attend a special meeting. No I’m no big government
official or lobbyist or anything of that kind. I’m just an old military retiree
who had been asked to lend a helping hand. You see about six months ago I
received a call from a friend of mine in California. His name is Fred Salanti
and he happens to be the National Executive Director & President of the
Missing In America Project (M.I.A.P.).
We had worked together in the past on several
occasions and he wanted to just give me a heads up on a mission that they may
be undertaking in the DC area. Fred has a way of asking you to do things…
without really asking. So before I knew what was to happen, he had already
convinced me to be ready to participate. Fred explained to me that Brigitte
Corbin, M.I.A.P. Region 8 Coordinator, and her team in the Virginia area would
be overseeing the entire mission and that she would contact me when details
were completed. The United States Black Cavalry Family (USBCF) had worked with
Brigitte and her team in the past at both Arlington and Quantico. We knew
immediately that things would be handled professionally. So I stood by for
weeks and simply waited for her call…..and her call did come.
Closing in on our Nation’s Capital the
traffic thickened and eventually came to a stop. I had been on the road for
over four hours and had hoped to beat the traffic around DC but that rarely
happens. Arriving at the meeting a few minutes late I was greeted with a hug
from Brigitte and with smiles from a lot of familiar faces including that of
James “Dragon 6” Rolle, a member of our United States Black Cavalry Family, who
had driven all the way from Augusta, Georgia to help with this mission. Members
of Brigitte’s team and those of the “Brothers in Arms MC” reached out to shake
my hand and then we got down to business.
“Some of you may not be aware” were the words
that Brigitte used to start the meeting. Then she went on to explain that over
the past year she and her team and the executive staff of the Missing In
America Project have been working with the National Park Service (NPS) on a
very special mission. She further stated that all of the hard work had
culminated into a five year renewable agreement between the two organizations
that would provide for the inurnment of cremated human remains left at the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as the Vietnam Wall. 
Many
of you reading this may not have known that cremains of veterans have been left
at “The Vietnam Wall” since 1989. They have been left by family and friends.
They have been left in all types of boxes and bags of many different shapes and
sizes, concealed in vials and bottles and even attached to bouquets of flowers
and letters of love. The National Park Service has collected, categorized, and
stored these veteran’s cremains for years. But now with the agreement in place,
the Missing in America Project has taken possession of 75 of these cremated
remains from the National Park Service and has insured their inurnment with
full military honors.
Jan arrived at about 9:30pm. She worked her
regular schedule that day then drove down that night alone from Jersey. I
briefed her on the meeting and the need for us to be downstairs early the next
morning. We were up and dressed on time, loaded our two cars and then went to
the breakfast area to introduce Jan to everyone. Some of the Virginia team had
already departed for the cemetery. The rest of us poured our coffee then began
the delicate assignment of transferring the cremains to the awaiting vans. With
all of us working together, it didn’t take long. By 7:15am we were leaving the
hotel parking lot 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Twelve cars with lights flashing, one behind
the other, weaved their way through traffic for 20 miles from the hotel in Stafford,
Va. to the country setting of Woodbine Cemetery in Manassas. Grounds personnel
were still preparing the ceremony area when we arrived. Hot coffee and donuts
sat on the hood of one of the team members’ cars. It was needed as the
temperature struggled to get into the 40s. Zurrian Bennett, one of the first to
join the USBCF was waiting there with his youngest son to greet us. Moments
later word was received that a hand was needed to get the tables and chairs
down to the ceremony area.
Without hesitation everyone present climbed the church stairs to the storage area and began carrying the required tables and chairs downstairs to an awaiting truck. Then under the direction of Brigitte we lined the tables, covered them with white and blue cloths, and then began offloading the cremains from the vans and carefully placing them on the tables so that each of the 75, regardless of size, would be visible to those in attendance.
As the roar of the bikes were heard in the
distance, Brigitte moved to the parking lot to greet the guest speaker, Ms.
Patricia Trap, Acting Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks and
other dignitaries. The Brothers-at-Arms MC rotated to their assigned areas to
assure the safe parking of bikes and cars and the United States Black Cavalry,
now joined by John and Hilda Barfield from our West Virginia Family, positioned
ourselves behind each of the four tables. Virginia MIAP member stood by to
relieve us if necessary and to guide the attendees to the viewing area. We were
all positioned as planned the night before. The hard work of the M.I.A.P. was
about to come to fruition.
The Army and Marine Honor Guard stood by as attendees
formed a line and began viewing the cremains spaced equally upon the four
tables.
The Bugler waited patiently on a small rise just outside
of the tent. Some attendees brought pictures of their departed friends. One in
particular had to be consoled by Jan as he carried a picture of his friend at
his side and struggled to hold back tears. Nearly all of those passing the
tables took the time to simply say “thank you” or to extend a firm handshake. As
the line diminished and the seats filled, Brigitte moved toward the mic to
start the formal service.
The ceremony was short but dignified.
Brigitte welcomed everyone, Don Reid, M.I.A.P. National Chaplain gave the Invocation
and remarks were heard from the guest speaker, Ms. Patricia Trap, who
personally thanked all who attended and in particular Brigitte and her team and
the Missing In America Project for all that they had done and will do in the
future. Silence moved over the gathering as the honor guard stepped into place
and rendered a final salute by unfolding and then refolding the American flag,
once by the Marines and then again by the Army.
Taps was then sounded by the American Legion
member standing on the rise and the flags were then presented, one to the
National Park Service and one to the gentleman that was holding tightly to a
picture of his friend. No one moved as Larry Brink and John Tutunjian, volunteers
with the Virginia MIAP, read the names of the identifiable cremains. A moment
of silence was held for the 27 who names were not known. Pastor Gene Wells of
Woodbine Church and Cemetery who was there working with us from early that
morning gave the Benediction.
Some of the attendees returned to the tables for more pictures, handshakes and to again say “thank you”. We held our positions until the area cleared and when the fading sounds of the bikes signaled the departure of most, the volunteers gathered at the grave site to conduct our final assignment. The Virginia MIAP Team, The Brother in Arms Motorcycle Club, and the United States Black Cavalry Family all joined together to place the urns, vials, bottles and boxes into the vault.
Jan was honored to place the first and we all assisted with the remaining.
Our youngest member, 20
years old Xavier was experiencing his first ceremony. We hoped that there
would not be a need for another but we all knew that there will be. It took a
while to place the cremains exactly right in the vault so that they would all
fit but patience prevailed and when completed we all thanked each other,
reached out with hugs and handshakes and stood together as the grounds
personnel moved the top of the vault into place.
I salute the M.I.A.P. for always staying true
to their stated purpose.
The purpose of
the Missing in America Project (M.I.A.P.) 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 and respect to those
who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these
forgotten heroes.
My heartfelt thanks to all who were involved
in this mission, “The 75 from the Vietnam Memorial”.
Love and Respect,
Thomas “TC” Costley
Co-Founder/President
United States Black Cavalry Family
USBCF
Co-Founder/President
United States Black Cavalry Family
USBCF
