Every year, Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) mobilizes volunteers across the country to pay respects to fallen heroes on and around Memorial Day through The Honor Project. This year, thousands of volunteers will visit more than 70 cemeteries, placing hand-crafted commemorative tokens at the resting places of over 10,000 fallen heroes—taking a moment to reflect on their service and sacrifice. 

The Honor Project was inspired by restrictions during the pandemic in 2021 that prohibited anyone besides immediate family members from visiting their loved ones at Arlington National Cemetery. It has since grown from a single event to a national movement, providing families and battle buddies with reassurance that their heroes will not be forgotten.

“For me, it’s all about service and sacrifice,” says Travis Howard, a Veteran Mentor with TMF and long-time volunteer. “The Honor Project is a chance for us to reflect on what Memorial Day means. It gives us a chance to honor our fallen heroes’ sacrifice and learn their stories, so they’re never truly gone.” 

Honoring our fallen heroes is for everyone, including youth, hundreds of whom attend THP events at cemeteries across the country. Educating the next generation about the true meaning of Memorial Day and the importance of honoring our fallen heroes is a core part of TMF’s mission. At every The Honor Project site, Veteran Mentors will deliver short lessons from Character Does Matter (CDM) curriculum powered by Under Armour Freedom. The curriculum focuses on developing character and leadership skills in young adults. 

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and deserves to be celebrated, but it’s also an important time to remember the reason we’re able to celebrate. Before heading to the beach or the barbecue, ask yourself, “If Not Me, Then Who…” 

By volunteering with The Honor Project, you help ensure our fallen heroes' legacies live on. If you don’t live near a participating cemetery, you can also submit a fallen hero for volunteers to honor. If you have a loved one or battle buddy resting at one of over 70 participating cemeteries, enter their information here and they will not be alone this Memorial Day.