The gist
The Headstones for Heroes campaign—spearheaded by Ernie Cormier, resident and former commander of the American Legion Post 164—is working to place a headstone on every veteran’s grave who is buried in the Katy Magnolia Cemetery, located at 6801 Franz Road, Katy. The project, launched in late 2023, is a partnership between American Legion Post 164 Katy, Katy Elks Lodge 2628 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 164.
Organizers have identified 28 veterans in the older part of the public cemetery needing a headstone, Cormier said. The group is focusing on the older section and then will move on to the newer section of the cemetery, where there are already 10 to 15 more veterans who are also needing headstones.
The background
While marking veteran’s graves during the holiday season as a part of the Wreaths Across America program in 2018, Cormier said he was having difficulty locating a gravesite for Manual Jesse Garcia, a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II. Eventually, he realized he was walking over it due to the lack of headstone.
Upon learning this didn’t have a headstone, Cormier began to raise money to place a headstone on the gravesite, which was delivered in December 2020. Cormier said he visits each year at Christmas to place a wreath on his grave as well as periodically just to check in.
Realizing there was an additional need, Cormier partnered with local veterans organizations to ensure no one else goes without a headstone.
“After I got the first, and how much it really moved me ... I said these others need their headstones so bad,” Cormier said.
Lend a hand
As Headstones for Heroes begins on the journey to ensure each veteran has a headstone, Cormier said the group is looking to contact the veterans’ families to see if they can obtain more information on the individuals.
Veterans are able to receive a free headstone from the Department of Veterans Affairs, though identification items, including Social Security number and DD214 form, a document about an individual’s military record, are required, Cormier said.
Headstones for Heroes organizers are calling on the community to help identify family members of the veterans. Those with information on the veterans’ families should contact Cormier at 713-202-5933.
Veterans, some of whom only a portion of their names is available, needing family contact information include:
- Luther Creath Nichols
- Josh Osborn
- F.O. Smith
- C.F. Pasierbowtcz
- James H. Richardson Jr.
- A Lee Richardson
- Sara Brand
- Falkner
- D. D. Southward
- P.L. Vaughn
- Verrett
- McDonald
- Forman
- C.D. Sible
- Richard John Gazdig
- E.D. Wiener
- Barney E. Nichols
- Philip Ray Woods
- Kix Royle Mansell
- Dupree
- Walter R. Ruley
- Red
- James Pactrick Francis
- Harvey
- William Reilly
- R.S. Smith
Each headstone will cost about $650; community members interested in providing donations can send check or cash donations to American Legion 164 at P.O. Box 1171, Katy, 77492. If sending a check, donors should indicate it is for headstones on the memo line, he said. The group has already collected approximately $3,000 since its launch in late 2023.
Looking ahead
The project is expected to take three to four years, which will account for all veterans in both sections of Katy Magnolia Cemetery to receive a headstone, Cormier said.
“I was in during the latter part of the Vietnam [War]-era [but] I didn’t go [overseas],” Cormier said. “Those guys who actually went to the theater of operations and got shot at went through a hell of a lot more than I did, and I feel like I should do my part to help those who went in and honor them as much as I can.”
