Concept v3: 9/17/25 About The McCandless Initiative
McCandless Initiative: Honoring Veterans, Preserving Legacies
The McCandless Initiative is a mission-driven effort to address the dual crises of veterans dying alone and their remains going unclaimed. Inspired by the lives of an extraordinary veterans—Harry McCandless, a WWII test pilot who pushed the boundaries of aviation.
Across generations, veterans have contributed to the safety, security, and progress of our nation. Yet, in their final days, many are left without family, recognition, or the dignity of a proper farewell. Through historical documentation, community engagement, and advocacy, this initiative connects past service members’ stories with modern efforts to honor those who have passed without recognition.
By preserving military histories, raising awareness about unclaimed veterans' remains, and fostering a nationwide effort to ensure every veteran is laid to rest with dignity, the McCandless Initiative bridges the past and present. Whether through storytelling, public memorials, or advocacy for stronger support systems, this effort seeks to reinforce a simple truth: no one who has served should be forgotten.
THE GOALS
Potential Goals for the McCandless Initiative
- Field Research & Data Collection
- Travel to 10 states to investigate the extent of veterans dying alone and their remains going unclaimed.
- Identify common systemic barriers preventing proper recognition and care.
- Standards
- Develop standards to improve how unclaimed veteran remains are handled.
- Post results for better healthcare, hospice care, and social support networks to prevent veterans from dying in isolation.
- Public Awareness & Storytelling
- Use the legacy of McCandless to educate the public about the issue.
- Create a web site / archive to share the stories of veterans who have been forgotten.
- Pilot Programs & Solution Development
- Develop and publish standards that could provide preventative care, early intervention, and dignified burials for at-risk veterans.
- Establish a national registry or database for tracking unclaimed veteran remains and connecting them with possible next of kin.
DAY ONE
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
Today marks the official launch of the McCandless Initiative, an expansion of Project NAGA, Inc. dedicated to addressing the dual crisis of veterans dying alone and their remains going unclaimed. To begin this journey, we started where all meaningful change must—by honoring the lives of those who inspired this mission.
The initiative’s namesake, Harry McCandless, a WWII test pilot who helped push the boundaries of aviation. Today, we paid our respects at veterans gravesites, reflecting on their legacies and the countless others who have served yet been forgotten in their final days.
The First Step
With this first step, the McCandless Initiative embarks on a journey to 10 states, conducting research and developing solutions for a problem that has remained in the shadows for too long. Over the coming months, we will:
- Document the crisis by traveling to 10 additional states.
- Advocate for national standards that provide dignity in life and death for all veterans.
- Share the stories of those who served, ensuring their legacies are preserved and honored.
No one who served should be forgotten. Today we remember. Tomorrow, we act.
DAY TWO
Remembered
Yesterday, I visited the graves of a veteran and his family (Harry Stuart McCandless). Then, I met with a family member and we talked about his father’s service and legacy. He gave me pictures, ensuring that his father’s story would not be forgotten.
Along with his family’s efforts, his contributions, both in uniform and through his life, are visibly honored. But not all veterans are as fortunate as Harry Stuart McCandless.
Across the country, countless veterans go unrecognized in life and in death. Some remain unclaimed, while others are buried without proper acknowledgment of their service, or their legacy is lost to the public.
The McCandless Initiative is about ensuring that no veteran is forgotten—not in their final resting place, not in history, to the public, and not by the country they served.
