New Mission for Rick Brown in 2020

Greenfield, IN (February 14, 2020) — Rick Brown, an army veteran who served in Vietnam is honoring those who served and making sure that they are never forgotten. Brown, now spends his time travelling all across Indiana restoring the grave markers of the men and women who have served this country.

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

A vintage car and the veteran behind the wheel

Lincoln, Nebraska (October 18, 2019) — Sam Aughe is from Crete, Nebraska, bu has been all over the United States in his everyday car, though, his travels are nothing of the ordinary.

This vehicle has seen 73 thousand miles, and has shared over 32 hundred smiles.

It is not yet done with its life journey.

It is a patriotic testament to those who have lived and died and have served their country as they see it.

"Say, the car isn't about me, it's about what it stands for," Owner and Vietnam Veteran, Sam Aughe said. "There's names inside and outside."

The vehicle has gone all over the states, and with it, collected over 32 hundred plus signatures and names of servicememers- most of those from the military, and some of those from Police and Fire departments.

"...Names from the civil war, world war one world war two, Korea, Vietnam, the stuff in the middle east," Aughe said.

All of the names came with a story to tell.

"Some of the stories, i wish i could remember them all, are heartbreaking. I had a girl sign it a couple years ago. Her brother introduced her to the guy she married. They were both killed by the same IED in Iraq. When she signed it, the bodies were not back yet," Aughe said.

"We end up getting a lot of hugs. They're either 6ft 10in, all dressed up in leather sweaty bikers, or sweet old women just crying. It brings people closure," Aughe's grandson and successor to the vehicle, John Parks said.

The first name on it is Sam's friend he lost in the Vietnam war.

"If I could sleep, this would never happen, but it just came to me in the middle of the night. I can tell you the first name that was on it, and that's Bob Rose, killed in action December 24th, 1969," Aughe said.

The last name will remain a mystery.


Aughe says this project is an extension of his personal journey, and will be passing the car and its responsibility on to his grandson when Sam can no longer drive.

He said he doesn't want it to be pretty, but just a simple reminder of those who risked their lives to serve their country.

If you're interested in inviting the vehicle to a memorial service, you can contact Sam Aughe at 402-418-8329.

SOURCE: KLKN