As Memorial Day nears, Bend-based Project Recover remembers the fallen by bringing heroes home
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. — As families across Central Oregon prepare to honor those who gave their lives in service to the nation, one Bend-based nonprofit is working year-round to bring missing heroes home.
Project Recover, a national leader in the search for and recovery of Americans Missing in Action (MIA), is using Memorial Day to remind the community of the powerful work still being done to keep our nation’s promise: that no one is left behind.
In the last six months, Project Recover has played a key role in the identification and repatriation of seven American service members, with more identifications to come.
“These are not just names etched in stone. These are individuals who sacrificed for our nation and whose families have waited decades for answers,” said Derek Abbey, Project Recover CEO. “Memorial Day is not only a time to remember their sacrifice, but also to renew our commitment to bringing them home.”
This Memorial Day weekend, Project Recover team members will attend services for two WWII airmen whose remains were recently recovered and identified following the organization’s efforts in locating their B-24 in 2017:
SSgt Eugene Darriagan, to be honored in Wappingers Falls, NY, on Saturday, May 24
2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr., to be honored in Livermore, CA, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26
Both men served aboard the B-24 bomber Heaven Can Wait, which was shot down over Papua New Guinea in 1944. Their homecomings are the result of years of research, search, and recovery missions, and unwavering dedication.
Locally, Project Recover invites the community to continue honoring fallen heroes at an upcoming ribbon cutting and open house for their new Bend office on Tuesday, July 22 at 3:30 p.m. in partnership with the Bend Chamber of Commerce. The new office, located at 803 SW Industrial Way, is helping bring national impact to Central Oregon.
“As Memorial Day reminds us, freedom is not free,” said Derek Abbey. “At Project Recover, we’re doing our part to make sure every sacrifice is remembered—and every hero has the chance to come home.”
To learn more about Project Recover’s mission or attend the July event, visit www.projectrecover.org.
Project Recover has completed over 100 missions in 25 countries, discovered and documented more than 75 aircraft associated with MIAs, developed a growing database of more than 700 cases associated with more than 3,000 MIAs, accounted for over 90 missing-in-action service members, repatriated 26 American heroes, and anticipate additional identifications before the end of 2025.