Our Mission
No Veteran Should Rest Forgotten
Why We Exist
Tens of thousands of American veterans are buried without a government-issued headstone. Some were lost to bureaucratic failure. Others were interred in segregated or neglected cemeteries. Many simply had no family left to advocate for them.
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides headstones and markers at no cost to the families of eligible veterans — but the application process is complex, records are often incomplete, and too many graves go unmarked simply because no one knew to ask.
We exist to close that gap. We research military service records, locate burial sites, assist families with the application process, and document every veteran we find so that their service is never forgotten.
Our History
How It Started
Operation Final Salute was founded in 2020 by Jessica (Jess) Frost as a result of the initial COVID lockdowns. Nothing could keep her from being 'locked down' at home. She started exploring the back roads of Kansas. She came across a desolate and run-down cemetery and immediately wanted to rectify and restore the honor to all who were there. She contacted local government agencies for permission to perform restoration and for information as to the then-caretakers (if any). No caretaker information was available, but permission was given to perform restoration provided that there would be no damage to existing headstones. After months of grueling summer heat, back-breaking restoration, and general grounds maintenance, the cemetery was brought back to life - no pun intended... Local residents began taking notice and asked the city if Jessica could be hired out properly. Unfortunately she was not taken on by any agency, but was allowed to use the county name in her further efforts and from that was born Reno County Preservation. Since 2020, she has identified over 1,000 residents that have not been added to social media sites (Find A Grave, Billions of Graves, etc). Her mission morphed from general restoration to making sure those without graves were known and recognized. Operation Final Salute itself began in summer of 2024 when a particular CORPORATION-OWNED cemetery came across Jessica's path. A local citizen had asked for research and validation on a family member who had been a veteran and had services at the cemetery, but could not be found. The cemetery in question was much larger than what had been worked on to date, but Jess knew that she had to honor this veteran - some way, some how. To this day, that veteran has yet to be located and given proper respect. Another veteran was located in what is considered a "segregated" section of the same cemetery. She served with honor but the cemetery didn't honor her. Presently, that cemetery alone has over 50 unmarked veterans' graves. Jessica has spoken on numerous radio shows and news outlets, as well as toured with the VA across the state of Kansas, making sure that there will be an end to this soon and that the government will step up and honor those who sacrificed all they had to give.
300+
Veterans Identified
0
Headstones Secured
5
States Covered
2020
Year Founded
How We Work
From Discovery to Dedication
01
Research & Verification
We cross-reference military service records, pension files, census data, and burial registries to confirm a veteran's service and locate their grave.
02
Family Outreach
We locate surviving family members and connect them with our coordinators, who guide them through the VA application process at no cost.
03
Application & Installation
We assist with completing VA Form 40-1330, coordinate with cemetery officials, and document the headstone installation when it takes place.
The People Behind the Work
Our Team
We are a volunteer-driven organization.
Jessica 'Jess' Frost
Creator
A cemetery preservationist and lover of all things historical.
Jeremiah Frost
Maintenance, Map Interpreter
Jessica's husband. Helps with the heavy lifting and the reading of cemetery maps.
Join the Mission
Whether you know of a forgotten veteran, want to volunteer your research skills, or wish to sponsor a headstone, there is a place for you in this work.
Get Involved