Give Back Their Names is a philanthropic organization dedicated to restoring identity, dignity, and remembrance to individuals buried in institutional cemeteries. Longstanding policies have kept burial records inaccessible, leaving many individuals interred in numbered or unmarked graves without public identification.

In New York State alone, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people – including many Veterans – remain unidentified in death, despite records that can confirm who they were and where they are buried. Families seeking basic information about a loved one’s final resting place often face significant barriers.

We work with families, historians, Veterans advocates, and policymakers across the country to modernize these laws in a way that balances transparency, and historical preservation. Our goal is to return names to the nameless, provide families with answers, and ensure that Veterans receive the recognition they earned, including appropriate Veterans Administration grave markers.

This work reflects shared values across communities and political lines: respect for families, dignity for the deceased, and honoring Veterans who came before us.