The Mission
No Veteran Should Be Forgotten
The Last Watch Project exists to rescue, research, and honor the stories of those who served — one artifact at a time.
How It Started
A Footlocker. A Name. A Mission.
It began with a single Navy footlocker found at an estate sale — stenciled with a name, and on the verge of disappearing forever. Inside were only two things: the stencil kit used to label the footlocker itself, and a Western Union telegram dated 1945, sent by his wife in Baltimore to Treasure Island, California.
That footlocker belonged to Francis W. Davison. I didn't know his story yet. But I knew someone should find it — and tell it. The Last Watch Project was born from that conviction: that every veteran's story is worth preserving, and that the objects they left behind are the keys to finding it.
"Every object is a door. Behind it is a person. Behind that person is a family. Behind that family is history."
What I Believe
Core Values
Dignity
Every veteran — regardless of rank, branch, or era — deserves to be remembered with care and respect. Every artifact is treated as sacred.
Truth
I follow the evidence. The research is rigorous, the documentation thorough, and every story is grounded in verified historical record.
Access
History belongs to everyone. Every story uncovered is shared publicly and archived permanently — free for families, researchers, and the curious alike.
Urgency
Time is not on my side. Every day, artifacts disappear and stories are lost. This work moves with purpose because the window to preserve these histories is closing.
The Work
What I Actually Do
The Last Watch Project is part archive, part detective agency, part memorial. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Acquire
Artifacts come through estate sales, thrift stores, donations, and community tips. Each item is catalogued, photographed, and assessed for research potential.
Research
Military records, census data, ship logs, discharge papers, and family archives are all cross-referenced. Every lead is pursued until a name becomes a person.
Document
Every finding is written up, photographed, and archived in a permanent digital record. A complete picture of the veteran's service and life is built from the ground up.
Share
Completed stories are published publicly and, whenever possible, shared directly with surviving family members. No story stays locked in a box.
Help Keep the Watch
If you have an artifact, a tip, or a story — reach out. Every lead matters.