Rick Brown working on the Civil War Veterans Burial Site marker
Brown is part of a the group called "Mission: Restore Bronze" with the main is located in Arizona, he heads up the Central Indiana Chapter. “Somebody needs to pay respect. It’s important to show that they’re not forgotten. Veterans need to be respected on both sides of the dirt,” Brown said.
List of Indiana Medal of Honor recipients Rick Brown restored in 2018
Brown has been restoring graves and markers in Indiana for about five years. So far he’s restored hundreds of them. In 2018, Brown accomplished a major goal of restoring graves and markers of all Medal of Honor Recipients interred in Indiana.
RELATED | Veterans gravestones restored at cemetery
For 2020 Raymond’s current target is to restore all Hoosier Vietnam Veteran KIA markers.
Rick Brown restoring a grave marker for a veteran
“You just can’t forget what these guys did for America, and I’m not about to,” he said. Brown, who is disabled due to a car accident in 1969, has been on the receiving end of some increased attention for his efforts.
Honor Restored once again!!
Restoration of Veteran Family Markers in Knightstown,Indiana, Glen Cove Cemetery.
Posted by Mission: Restore Bronze Indiana on Wednesday, May 29, 2019
For his efforts, Raymond was awarded in 2017 the Disabled Vet of the Year Award from the Disabled American Veteran Department of Indiana. Brown described receiving the award as a “great honor,” but says the ultimate gift would be to know that his work will continue when he no longer can. “It would be the best gift, It’d mean an awful lot to me,” he said.
Rick Brown travels all over Indiana with his Jeep and trailer
Brown is actively looking to raise funds to purchase a newer vehicle that would allow him to travel the state and restore more grave markers. Also, additional funds for incidentals such as gas and supplies for cleaning are also encouraged and welcome.
For more information on his fundraiser and Mission: Restore Bronze, you can visit the following:
Donations: PayPal Me
*For those who donate over $250 and want tax exemption, contact Bikersinc at: 317.801.1904
Website: MRBI.Rocks
Facebook: Mission Restore Bronze Indiana