Missing in America Project needs Malmstrom’s help

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A volunteer effort being coordinated to help honor six forgotten veterans is in dire need of as many volunteers as possible.

The Montana State Chapter of Missing in America Project (MIAP), with the help of the local and state law enforcement, local fire, city officials, Patriot Guard Riders of Montana, VFW Post 1087 veterans and numerous other volunteers will be coming together for a transfer ceremony June 5, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. at the Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory in Great Falls, Montana.

After the transfer ceremony, at approximately 1 p.m., the MIAP escort riders will mount up and lead more than 400 motorcycles out of Great Falls heading toward the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison in Helena, Montana, where they will lay these veterans to rest in a ceremony with full military honors. The ceremony is scheduled to start around 3 p.m.

The names of the veterans are:
-- ICFN Henry W. Curry - U.S. Navy: 1964-1966 - Vietnam
-- Sgt. Andrew A. Larson - U.S. Army (Ret): 1943-1966 - World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam
-- Pvt. Thomas J. Rice - U.S. Army: 1972 - Vietnam
-- Cpl. Richard L. Robinson - U.S. Army: 1950-1952 - Korean Conflict
-- Staff Sgt. Melvin H. Tedrick - U.S. Air Force (Ret): 1950-1954 & 1958-1974 - Korean Conflict and Vietnam
-- Cpl. Mary Joan Peet (Cox) - U.S. Army: 1943-1945 - World War II

The MIAP is requesting Malmstrom Airmen and family members to provide as many volunteers as possible to line the streets along the route from the funeral home out of town. The procession will follow 14th Street toward 10th Avenue South where they will make a right heading west toward Interstate-15.

One area they mentioned for everyone to meet was near Overlook Park. Volunteers should be in place by about 12:45 p.m.

Local police will shut down access roads to the procession route for the safety of the riders and the city. The best route for volunteers to take to get to Overlook Park from base would be using River Drive.

Also, the Montana State MIAP is looking for anyone interested in joining the funeral escort from Great Falls to Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison in Helena, Montana. They will be riding in a staggered formation - motorcycle enthusiasts and vehicles are welcome.

Anyone who wants to attend the ceremony in Helena is also welcome to do so.

For more information on helping with this volunteer effort contact Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson at 731-4043 or chad.thompson.6@us.af.mil or Staff Sgt. Jennifer Favinger at 731-4179 or jennifer.favinger@us.af.mil.  For more information on the Patriot Riders, call Rick English at 799-2209.

Editor's Note: The Missing in America Project is a massive, nation-wide effort to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. This task will be executed through the combined, cooperative efforts of members of the American Legion, other volunteer service and veteran organizations, local funeral homes, state funeral commissions, state and national veterans administration agencies, and the state and national veterans cemetery administrations. Local, state and national laws must be followed in the identification, claiming process and proper interment of the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans.  To date the MIAP has interred more than 2,300 veteran remains nation-wide.  For more information on the MIAP visit: http://www.miap.us/