Finding the fallen
“Finding the Fallen, 1941-2016: A Photographic Memorial Tribute to Local and University of Virginia Military Personnel Who Died While Serving in Times of War” is an ongoing effort to properly memorialize local veterans. Over the past few months, University of Virginia students Abbigail Dobbertin, Cameron Haddad, and Casey Burke have been gathering pictures and information on nearly 800 veterans across Albemarle County, under the guidance of ParadeRest founder Gregory Saathoff. The students have scoured UVA and Lane High School yearbooks, online databases, and student records held by the UVA Alumni Association to find veterans from World War II up to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. The pictures and names will ultimately be compiled into a Memorial Day tribute video, to be shown on May 29 at the Paramount Theater.
Military gravestones are necessary to honor our fallen, but not sufficient in demonstrating the qualities that made each of them special. Our fallen soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coast guard are more than just faceless people who gave their lives for our country. They are individuals whose unique personalities, hopes and aspirations survive in the hearts of friends and family members who miss them every day. By humanizing these remarkable men and women with photographs and biographical details, "Finding the Fallen" aims to pay them the tribute they deserve.
Our efforts have been rewarded with many photos, but our work goes on to find information and photographs of the fallen, and we need your help.
