Mel's Mission: WWII Dog Tag Return
Donation protected
My Mission: To return 6 American Dog Tags to 6 Families. To honour the sacrifices that these soldiers gave to give me the life I now live.
My father has been volunteering in the Solomon Islands, specifically around the Munda region with his Rotary Club for the past 7 years. In June of 2014, I was lucky enough to go with him where I volunteered at a local hospital. Once in Munda, I was surrounded by the remnants of the history of World War II. Littered in the ocean surrounding these beautiful islands and hidden within the jungles are all types of World War II relicts.
Being far from home and experiencing a whole new world, I began to think of the Soldiers who fought and died for the lives that we have now. Through the encouragement of my father, and my love of history, I began a mission to return the Dog Tags of these fallen soldiers to their families. It is the only way I know how to honour the sacrifices that these soldiers and their families made so that we could have the life we now lead.
It is hard to describe the attachment that I have to these 6 men who fought and died almost 40 years before I was born. The first time I found a picture of one of the soldier’s graves in his home town, I spent an unmeasured amount of time in front of the screen just staring. I couldn’t explain my sudden desire to visit his grave and pay my final respects. The first time I found a living family member of one of the soldiers, I burst out crying in the middle of my work lunch room. If my work colleagues did not think I was already passionate, they realised after this episode. Spending so long trying to find even the most basic information of someone does that to you.
I am now raising money to physically accompany each of the tags home to their families and pay my final respects to each soldier.
I am looking at raising $20000 Australian. This is what it will cost to pay for flights both internationally and domestically within America to travel to 7 different US States (as one of my Soldiers family lives in a different state to his grave) as well as accommodation while there. Any money raised will not be used for spending money while we are there. My father and partner will also be attending this trip with me as they have both been integral members of the search.
A break down of the costs:
$6000 (Aus) – International Travel
$5500 (US) – Domestic Travel
$4000 (US) – Accommodation Costs.
Remainder – Other incidental travel costs. This will not be used for spending money etc.
Any additional money raised I would like to look at honouring the Soldiers by either a new plaque or memorial board pending family input as well as any additional money raised being used to locate and return further dog tags.
If you have any questions regarding the use of these funds prior to donating, please do not hesitate to contact me.
To learn more about what the Rotary Group that my father is a member of does in Munda, visit www.mundamagic.com .
My father has been volunteering in the Solomon Islands, specifically around the Munda region with his Rotary Club for the past 7 years. In June of 2014, I was lucky enough to go with him where I volunteered at a local hospital. Once in Munda, I was surrounded by the remnants of the history of World War II. Littered in the ocean surrounding these beautiful islands and hidden within the jungles are all types of World War II relicts.
Being far from home and experiencing a whole new world, I began to think of the Soldiers who fought and died for the lives that we have now. Through the encouragement of my father, and my love of history, I began a mission to return the Dog Tags of these fallen soldiers to their families. It is the only way I know how to honour the sacrifices that these soldiers and their families made so that we could have the life we now lead.
It is hard to describe the attachment that I have to these 6 men who fought and died almost 40 years before I was born. The first time I found a picture of one of the soldier’s graves in his home town, I spent an unmeasured amount of time in front of the screen just staring. I couldn’t explain my sudden desire to visit his grave and pay my final respects. The first time I found a living family member of one of the soldiers, I burst out crying in the middle of my work lunch room. If my work colleagues did not think I was already passionate, they realised after this episode. Spending so long trying to find even the most basic information of someone does that to you.
I am now raising money to physically accompany each of the tags home to their families and pay my final respects to each soldier.
I am looking at raising $20000 Australian. This is what it will cost to pay for flights both internationally and domestically within America to travel to 7 different US States (as one of my Soldiers family lives in a different state to his grave) as well as accommodation while there. Any money raised will not be used for spending money while we are there. My father and partner will also be attending this trip with me as they have both been integral members of the search.
A break down of the costs:
$6000 (Aus) – International Travel
$5500 (US) – Domestic Travel
$4000 (US) – Accommodation Costs.
Remainder – Other incidental travel costs. This will not be used for spending money etc.
Any additional money raised I would like to look at honouring the Soldiers by either a new plaque or memorial board pending family input as well as any additional money raised being used to locate and return further dog tags.
If you have any questions regarding the use of these funds prior to donating, please do not hesitate to contact me.
To learn more about what the Rotary Group that my father is a member of does in Munda, visit www.mundamagic.com .
Organizer
Meleisha Tennent
Organizer
The Keppels QLD
