By Memorial Day Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing reverent perpetual care for all veteran graves not located in national cemeteries. Our mission is to ensure that every veteran’s grave receives the same level of honor and upkeep regardless of where they are buried.
By Memorial Day was founded to address the neglect of veteran graves located outside national cemeteries. Many of these graves do not receive the same care and respect as those in places like Arlington National Cemetery, and our goal is to change that through community support and direct fulfillment of grave care services by paid volunteers.
We aim to become a well-funded organization like the NCA but responsible for caring for veteran graves buried outside of national cemeteries. This includes asking individual donors, small business owners, corporations, the federal government, VA, NCA, state governments, county governments, and city governments for funding to support our mission of providing perpetual care at $129 per grave per year.
Trae Zipperer, a United States Navy veteran and Harvard Business School graduate, founded By Memorial Day on November 11th, 2019. As the founder, spokesperson, and primary fundraiser, Trae plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission. He travels across America to document the condition of veteran headstones, raising awareness and support through his YouTube channel and public appearances.
The team is motivated by a deep respect for veterans and a commitment to ensuring their graves are maintained with the same reverence as those in national cemeteries. Their personal connections to military service and their dedication to preserving the legacy of veterans drive their efforts.
By Memorial Day is funded through donations from patriotic Americans, small businesses, corporate sponsors, and government grants. We operate on a donation model where contributions are made on a per veteran grave basis in the amount of $129 per grave per year, or $11 per month per veteran grave.
The ultimate goal of By Memorial Day is to provide reverent perpetual care for all veteran graves across America, ensuring they receive the same level of respect and maintenance as those in national cemeteries. We aim to be recognized as the leading organization in this mission, supported by private donors, corporate sponsors, and government funding.
Our services include headstone cleaning, flag holder installation, bi-annual grave flag replacement, landscape trimming, grass and weed trimming, and ensuring a kempt appearance around the veteran graves. All these services are carried out in strict accordance with National Cemetery Administration (NCA) protocols.
To ensure headstones are kept in pristine condition, we follow a regular maintenance schedule. Each headstone is properly cleaned during the first visit to a veteran’s grave. The paid volunteer will visually inspect the veteran headstone during each visit two times per year. The headstone or grave marker will be cleaned on an as needed basis as determined by the paid volunteer. On average, a veteran headstone needs to be thoroughly cleaned once every two years. However, our paid volunteers will remove any visual soiling such as bird droppings and grass clippings during every visit.
We use only NCA-approved cleaning agents to remove biological growth and stains from headstones. Only cleaning agents containing an active ingredient known as a quaternary ammonium compound, or QUAT, can be used to clean government-furnished veteran headstones and grave markers. One such cleaning agent is D/2 Biological Solution, which is specifically formulated to clean biological and environmental stains from stone surfaces without causing damage to the natural stone.
Graves discovered for the first time are documented in our outsourced directory at VeteranGraves.com. This directory serves to record all veteran graves which includes telling each veteran’s unique story of service in fine military detail. Every time a grave is cleaned, an updated picture will be taken as proof of work and uploaded to VeteranGraves.com to ensure transparency and accountability.
Yes. We follow the best practices protocol issued by the National Cemetery Administration. Our cleaning process involves meticulous techniques that prioritize the preservation of the headstone’s material and inscriptions. We avoid using abrasive tools or methods that could scratch or wear down the stone. Instead, we use soft brushes with natural bristles, gentle scrubbing, and low-pressure water rinsing to clean the surfaces thoroughly without causing any harm.
The cleaning and maintenance are performed by trained and certified local paid volunteers. Our cleaners are well-versed in NCA protocols and use approved cleaning agents to ensure the headstones are treated with the utmost respect and care.
Families and donors can see the work being done through the documentation and updated photos of each cleaned grave at VeteranGraves.com. This transparency ensures that every contribution is making a tangible impact on the reverent upkeep of veteran gravesites.
Our services are funded through donations from patriotic Americans, small businesses, corporate sponsors, and government grants. We operate on a donation model where contributions are made on a per veteran grave basis at $129 per grave per year.
The NCA has a budget of $553 million annually to maintain only 16% of all veteran graves in America. The NCA currently provides perpetual care for approximately 4.1 million graves which equates to $135 per grave per year. By Memorial Day provides similar care to the other 84% of veteran graves scattered all across America in more than 150,000 cemeteries. By Memorial Day aims to tackle this logistical challenge at a lower cost of $129 per grave per year. We believe the cost per veteran grave per year will decline as the organization reaches breakeven for fixed costs resulting in additional veteran graves being added for only incremental variable costs per veteran grave.
You can make a donation through our website by visiting the “Get Involved” section. Donations can be made online, and we accept contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Or, reach out to By Memorial Day via our Contact Us page to discuss with our team how you would like to complete your contribution. For example, you might just want to mail a check!
Yes, donations to By Memorial Day are tax-deductible as we are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You will receive a receipt for your donation that can be used for tax purposes.
We ensure transparency and accountability by documenting and tracking all the work done on veteran gravesites. Updated photos and records are kept to show the impact of donations, and regular updates are provided to donors.
Yes, you can specify how your donation is used by indicating your preference when making a donation. Whether you want to support headstone cleaning, flag replacement, or other services, we will ensure your contribution is used as intended.
Corporate sponsors can contribute through monetary donations, product donations, or resource support. Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies looking to align their brand with our mission and demonstrate their corporate patriotism.
Individuals can support our mission by making donations, becoming sponsors, or volunteering. Paid volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining the veteran gravesites and will be compensated for their efforts. Interested individuals can learn more and sign up on our website.
Volunteers can participate in various roles such as cleaning headstones, maintaining the veteran gravesites, and helping with administrative tasks. Training and certification are provided to ensure all volunteers adhere to NCA protocols.
Paid volunteers are compensated on a per veteran grave per visit basis. This ensures they are generously paid for their efforts, with additional incentives for meticulous documentation of their work by taking updated photos of each cleaned grave. This transparency and accountability help maintain the integrity of our mission.
Businesses and corporations can get involved by becoming sponsors, providing monetary donations, product donations, or resource support. Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies looking to align their brand with our mission and to demonstrate their corporate patriotism.
Yes, government entities can support By Memorial Day by providing federal, state, county, and city grants. We actively seek grants to help fund our mission and ensure the reverent perpetual care of veteran gravesites across America.
To become a sponsor, visit the “Sponsor Us” section on our website and fill out the sponsorship form. We will get in touch with you to discuss the details and how your company can support our mission.
You can stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, and regularly visiting our website for news and updates. We provide regular updates on our progress, events, and opportunities for involvement.
Trae Zipperer, a United States Navy veteran and MBA graduate of Harvard Business School, founded By Memorial Day on November 11th, 2019. As the founder, spokesperson, and primary fundraiser, Trae plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission. He travels across America to document the condition of veteran headstones to raise awareness and gain support through his YouTube channel and public appearances.
Jack Reed serves as the Director of Communications, responsible for public relations, content creation, social media management, and stakeholder engagement. David Grissom is the Director of Web Development, managing and optimizing the organization’s website and digital platforms.
The team is motivated by a deep respect for veterans and a commitment to ensuring their graves are maintained with the same reverence as those in national cemeteries. Their personal connections to military service and their strong desire to reverently preserve the legacies of our veterans of the past drives them to reverse America’s indifferent complacency towards hometown heroes.
You can provide a (1) time sponsor of $129 or start up a monthly sponsorship of $11/month.
