Ashes to Honor

Ashes to Honor Military Records Recovery and Reconstruction.

After meeting with the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, I finally have some important information for anyone...
05/04/2026

After meeting with the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, I finally have some important information for anyone searching for military records.

Going forward, our records request forms will be updated to be much more detailed. The biggest takeaway is this: the more information you can provide, the better chance we have of locating or reconstructing records.

For reconstruction cases especially, details are everything. Things like:

* Full names (including middle initials)
* Dates of service
* Units and duty stations
* Letters with return addresses
* Deployment locations
* Any documents, photos, or personal records

Even small details can make a huge difference when we’re doing in-person research.

For personnel files, it’s the same idea—the more specific you can be, the better. Anything that helps narrow down timeframes or locations gives us a stronger starting point.

This trip was a huge step forward for the work we’re doing. We’re learning more every time we go, and it’s going to directly impact how many veterans we’re able to help moving forward.

If you or your family are looking for records, start gathering whatever information you can now—it matters more than you think.

I’ll be traveling back to D.C. again this month for a full week to continue working through current requests. The next major step will be traveling to Missouri to access personnel files in person. This is a critical piece of the process and something we can’t avoid if we want to keep moving cases forward.

Beyond proud of our founder and President Mathew Hernon, being spotlighted by the State of Massachusetts.
02/09/2026

Beyond proud of our founder and President Mathew Hernon, being spotlighted by the State of Massachusetts.

12/17/2025

As the year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to provide an update to everyone currently awaiting records and to those who have supported Ashes to Honor along the way.

The coming year will be a demanding one. Requests continue to increase, more cases require in-person research at archival facilities, and new collaborations are developing. That means more time on the road, more hours in research rooms, and more behind-the-scenes work to make sure every case is handled properly and with care. Our time will be stretched, but the mission will always remain the priority.

There’s something important I want to be transparent about. Ashes to Honor is not funded by the government. This work exists solely because I continue to do it. If I stop, the work stops. I do not charge veterans or families for this service — and I never will — which means grants and community support are the only way this mission continues long-term.

For those waiting on records, please know that your cases have not been forgotten. Some records take time, especially when they were lost or destroyed decades ago, but every case is being worked with the same urgency and respect I would want for my own family.

Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with something so personal and important. Your patience, belief, and support mean more than I can put into words. We will keep going, and we will keep doing this the right way.

Celebrating our Nations Heroes
11/12/2025

Celebrating our Nations Heroes

Next Tuesday… don’t forget to thank a Veteran 🇺🇸 “Freedom is Not Free”
11/04/2025

Next Tuesday… don’t forget to thank a Veteran 🇺🇸 “Freedom is Not Free”

We are proud to announce a new soldier to the Ashes to Honor family… Pvt Sundelin, future 25U. Fort Jackson, S.C. with ...
10/29/2025

We are proud to announce a new soldier to the Ashes to Honor family… Pvt Sundelin, future 25U. Fort Jackson, S.C. with our founder (proud Uncle) Mathew Hernon.

The Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal event that marked the beginning of the end for Germany.
06/06/2025

The Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal event that marked the beginning of the end for Germany.

An update for everyone from Mathew. Hi everyone! The past few months have been very eventful for my family and me. On Ap...
05/06/2025

An update for everyone from Mathew.

Hi everyone!
The past few months have been very eventful for my family and me. On April 8th, my wife and I welcomed our third and fourth child. Mila and Maya.
Previous to their birth, I had to dedicate most of my time to my wife with her high-risk pregnancy.
I am happy to announce that after a short stay in the NICU, we are all home, and my wife and the girls are doing amazing.

I will get back to everyone, but it may take some time. For those of you who have requested documents, I have submitted the requests and await a response from the NPRC and other federal agencies.

Thank you all for being so patient. I will reach out soon!

Mathew.

P.S.
I hope the picture below of the girls gives everyone reading this a smile!

12/20/2024

Exciting Update!

Over the past month, we’ve successfully recovered nearly 1,000 pages of veterans' records! Each one of these records belongs to living veterans who needed documentation to access essential benefits like healthcare, housing, and more. We are incredibly proud to support these veterans and help them get the recognition they deserve. Thank you for being part of this important mission! Together, we can continue to make a difference.

Veterans Collaborative

12/13/2024

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO,
IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT,
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED,
A TRUE MODERN SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO,
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALISED THE FAMILIES,
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the
service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's
try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and
think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
God Bless ❤️

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Plymouth, MA
02360

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