TAMPA, Fla. — At the American Legion Cemetery in Tampa, Drew Garcia is saving lives. He’s piecing together the stories of veterans who are on the verge of being forgotten.

“I’m putting their stories back together,” Garcia said.

American Legion Cemetery President Alyse Duffy said the need to remember these veterans is critical.

“The quote is, ‘A person dies twice.’ Once when they give up their life and the second time when they’re forgotten forever,” Duffy said.

What You Need To Know

Tampa resident Drew Garcia is on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members buried at the American Legion Cemetery

With the help of his partner, Paige Wilson, Garcia calls the project “American Bios”

Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far, but they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own

A year ago, Garcia began searching for a research project. Since he was a history buff, Duffy suggested Garcia research the lives of the veterans buried at the American Legion Cemetery. When he was younger, Garcia said he always wondered about the cemetery he would pass along Kennedy Boulevard.

With the go-ahead from Duffy, Garcia started delving into the life of each military member. He thought he’d only tell the story of a couple of veterans.

“But I realized that’s not fair,” Garcia said. “It’s important all their stories are told.”

Now, he’s on a mission to tell the stories of all 732 military members who are buried at Tampa’s American Legion Cemetery.

“We have a spreadsheet and I just scroll, scroll, scroll and I click them,” Garcia said.

After randomly picking a veteran to research, Garcia goes through census data, military records, marriage documents — whatever he can find. He even reaches out to family members. Then, Garcia shares each story with whoever will listen.

“Not all of them served for the same amount of time, but their service is so incredibly important in making America what it is today,” Garcia said.

He calls the project “American Bios.”

His partner, Paige Wilson, came up with the name. She’s now in charge of the online Instagram presence. 

“I feel so connected to each of these veterans that I research because I learn their life story,” Wilson said.

But sometimes, there are gaps.

Like Private Frank Marson, for example. He fought in the Spanish-American War in the late 1800s and there are not a lot of records about his life.

“I see evidence right there of someone’s story who isn’t as properly told as it should be because it’s been so long, and so it really drives me to want to get things done now,” Garcia said. “Research them today.”

So today, the work continues.

“I feel so humbled to be surrounded by these heroes,” Garcia said. “I want these people’s stories to be so famous that someone can just be looking online and stumble upon the story of their great grandparent. That’s how popular I want these people to get.”

Garcia and Wilson have uncovered the stories of about 20 veterans so far.

They have put the pieces together like a puzzle.

“It’s so cool,” Garcia said. “There’s no other word for it.”

But the couple needs some help. They’re both graduating next year.

And while Garcia will continue to lead the project, they’re hoping to find others who are just as eager to do some sleuthing of their own.

Garcia said he wants to make all 732 veterans famous. And one day, he wants their stories shared in the Library of Congress. It’s all an effort to keep the veterans buried at American Legion Cemetery alive.