The Missing in America Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to veterans. Their mission statement is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremains of American veterans by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. This is executed through tthe combined efforts of citizens, volunteer service and veterans organizations, funeral homes, state funeral commissions and state and national veteran's administration agencies. The Missing in Amercia Project was launched nationwide in January 2007. MIAP was founded by Fred Salanti from Redding, California who is a disabled veteran and was a Major in the United States Army Infantry and a Viet Nam Veteran. Fred, through his involvement with conducting monthly services at national and state cemeteries for indigent veterans, stumbled across the unrecognized need to inter forgotten veterans, who cremains have been languishing on shelves and in storage rooms across the United States for decades. The Missing in America Project has become his life mission.

As of April 2008, MIAP had 253 volunteers and approximately 120 group volunteers in 44 states. There have been 4688 cremains located with 418 funeral homes having been visited and 144 veterans identified and 109 of them interred.

Linda Smith, who is a retired DOD, United States Navy Veteran and a Patriot Guard Rider, accepted the position of National MIAP Operations Coordinator. Since that time she has successfully brought 11 new states on board, with state coordinators and numerous volunteers. She has also signed on American Legion Posts, American Legion Rider chapters, and other groups, to assist the MIAP. Originally from West Virginia, she resides in Missouri and is the proud parent of IT 1 Joseph Smith who has served in the Navy for 10 years.

A memorial service with full military honors was held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, September 19, 2008 in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery of Springfield, Missouri with Chaplina (LTC) John Bjarnason and Monsignor Thomas Reby officiating. Those responsible for providing this service were Linda Smith (National MIAP Operations Coordinator), Joseph Smith (Assistant National MIAP Operations), Cornell Miles, Donald Gerspach and Michael O'Rourke (all of American Legion Riders Chapter 331). Other organizations that were also involved in the service were the Patriot Guard, Christian Motorcycle Association, Freedom of the Road Riders, Free Mason Riding Club, and the American Legion Riders Post 639 of Springfield. Military honors were provided by the United States Military of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapels of Waynesville/St. Robert and Richland.

Those remains that were interred were:

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missing in America Project and may be left at Waynesville Memorial Chapel or Richland Memorial Chapel.