Nominate for Enshrinement

Thank you for your interest in nominating a deceased veteran for enshrinement in the Patriots Peace Memorial. As the name reflects, the monument was built in memory of those men and women in military service, who died during honorable service in the line of duty, under conditions other than those of declared hostile action. Every service member trains and prepares physically and mentally to serve in combat if called on. All stand ready to give his or her all in the cause of freedom. Some lose their lives before being called.  

Our emphasis has been to find and honor veterans with local ties, who have died in service after the Vietnam War. We have a memorial service for our honorees annually at noon on Memorial Day. At that time we honor any new patriots approved for enshrinement during the preceding year. Due to the expense associated with the actual crafting of glass bricks, removal of concrete blocks, and installation in the memorial itself, the installation of bricks is periodically accomplished when sufficient honorees (3-4) have been approved for enshrinement.   

The official documentation is required from the member’s service to certify that a potential honoree was serving honorably at the time of his or her death and that it was not a result of misconduct or through some circumstance caused by the service member. The death may have occurred during regular off-duty time or official leave. In the case of Reservists and National Guard personnel, the death may have occurred while traveling to or from official duty or during any period of time while the service member was in a paid status.

Enshrinement Documentation Requirements

To protect and preserve the integrity of the purpose of the Patriots Peace Memorial and the veterans it honors, the Enshrinement Committee requires official documentation to be provided for each veteran being nominated. The following documentation is requested:  

• The official report of casualty from the veteran’s branch of service. This is similar to a civilian death certificate.
• The results of the official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death to verify it was not due to misconduct on the part of the service member or otherwise not considered in the line of duty.    
• If requested documents are not available, the Enshrinement Committee may request other documentation, such as the type of benefits received by next of kin.

Only a military command, a veteran, or his/her family member can request service information from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. There are about 70 million records on file, so provide as much information as you can. In your letter to the National Records Center, explain why you are requesting the information and your relationship with the veteran. Sign and date your request and be sure to include your mailing address.

You should include as much of the following information as possible:

• Complete name used while in service.
• Service number or social security number.
• Branch of service.
• Dates of service.
• Date and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if the service number is unknown.
• Last unit of assignment.
• Place of entry of service if known.

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO   63138
Phone:     (314) 801-0800
Fax:         (314) 802-9195
https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center

Submit Nomination

After following the procedures above, you can submit your nomination by emailing [email protected] or by filling out the form below: