It’s an undertaking not many would endeavor to pursue, but the Austin Reedy American Legion Auxiliary Post 97 of Libby dove into a project to identify military veterans who are interred in the Libby City Cemetery.

Auxiliary member Kari Boardman explained that in the spring of 2025, three American Legion Auxiliary volunteers were attempting to locate deeded grave sites purchased by the American Legion in 1941. 

“As we searched for the deeded plots, it was noted that there were many more Veterans interred in the City of Libby Cemetery than those located in what historically has been referred to as the Veterans Section,” Boardman said. “A committee was quickly formed to conduct an on the ground grave-by-grave survey of the entire cemetery to locate every Veteran grave. It soon became apparent there are far more Veterans interred there than previously understood.”

The Auxiliary incorporated the efforts of past Legion and Auxiliary members, utilized the American Legion Post and Auxiliary Unit 97 historical archives and worked closely with Deputy City Clerk/Treasurer Evelyn Burk and Ray Ortiz at City Hall as the project took shape. 

The survey was completed and a database built recording each grave, cemetery maps of each block were highlighted to indicate a Veteran grave, and a plan made to honor every Veteran interred in the cemetery with an American flag for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Boardman said the project was subsequently named the Unforgotten Heroes Project. 

“Many of the graves appear to have no one tending them any longer,” Boardman said. “Inspired by the volunteers and citizens in Belgium and France who carefully tend the graves of fallen American service members from World War II, the scope of the project became not only to place a flag honoring them, but also tend the graves by cleaning, edging and maintaining them as flags are placed every year.”

Volunteers will be placing flags on Veterans graves from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 20, at the City of Libby Cemetery. The flags will remain in place for one week, until Wednesday, May 27, when volunteers will remove, clean and store the flags until Veterans Day. The Auxiliary encourages the public to take a moment to drive or walk through the cemetery during that week to see an impactful visual reminder of the service and sacrifice these men and women made on our behalf.

Not only is the Unforgotten Heroes Project a lesson in this Nation’s history, but it is also a reminder to never forget why Memorial Day exists. It’s a moment to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice at home and across the globe throughout our 250 years of history. 

“We vow never to forget them,” Boardman said. “The American Legion Auxiliary and their partners call on every citizen to honor them—not just with flags and parades, but with gratitude etched into our everyday lives. Say their names, tell their stories and live a life worthy of their sacrifice - on Memorial Day and every day. We do not say “have a Happy Memorial Day,” it is not a happy occasion but a solemn one. The American Legion Auxiliary wishes you a Grateful Memorial Day.

“Based on the above discoveries, we know there are even more Veterans unaccounted for by the grave survey which utilized military designated headstones only,” Boardman said. “The search continues for every Veteran through historical and genealogical research by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 97 Historian, Patty Burlingame.”

The full grave survey of Veterans uncovered some amazing historical facts:

- Total number of Veterans interred - 1,001. This includes Blocks 1-18 and the Mausoleum

Total by branch of service

• Air Force    59
• Army    653
• Coast Guard    8
• Marine Corps    57
• Navy    190
• Seabees    1
• Merchant Marines    2 (technically not military but did conduct essential security tasks during wartime)

There were 25 Veterans who served in more than one conflict. One Veteran served in three wars, including – WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

Total number of Veterans by conflict

• Civil War    8
• Spanish American War    11
• Indian Wars    1
• WWI    105
• WWII     491
• Korea    109
• Vietnam    98
• Persian Gulf    3
• Global War on Terror    2

Medal honorees

• Silver Star Medal    1
• Bronze Star Medals    11
• Purple Heart Medals    22
• POW    2
• Pearl Harbor Survivor – 1

The committee is calling on the public to help in the search by contacting the American Legion Auxiliary if you know of a Veteran interred in the City of Libby Cemetery that does not have a military headstone. 

Those Veterans will be added to the database and will have a flag placed for them in the future. Contact the Auxiliary via email at [email protected] or American Legion Auxiliary Unit 97, c/o Unforgotten Heroes Project, 319 California Ave., Libby MT 59923.

This project has become a community collaboration with partners joining the cause, each contributing valuable time, skills and donations. 

These partners include

• American Legion Auxiliary/American Legion
• City of Libby
• VFW Post 1548
• Montana Army National Guard
• Rotary
• Girl Scout Troop 3360
• Church groups
• Homeschoolers
• Veterans and family members of Veterans
• Citizens