Operation Respect
Restoring more than 680 veterans' grave markers at Greenwood Cemetery in Belmont, NC, one stone at a time.
What is Operation Respect?
In 2026, Post Commander Larry Mathis launched Operation Respect, a project to locate, map, and restore more than 680 veterans' grave markers at Greenwood Cemetery that had become worn and unreadable over time. Weather and decades of grime had erased many of the names, dates, and branches of service on stones marking the graves of local veterans, some dating back generations.
Post 144 partnered with South Point High School's Naval JROTC program, and student cadets have done the hands-on work alongside the Post, cleaning the markers by hand so the names of those who served can be read again.
Why it matters
Commander Mathis has a personal connection to the cause: his father served in World War II, and his brother was killed in the Vietnam War. "It's very personal," Mathis said of the effort.
Every marker restored is a small act of remembrance, making sure a veteran's service and sacrifice stays visible to the community that owes it to them.
Want to get involved?
Operation Respect runs on volunteers and community support. Reach out to Post 144 to learn about upcoming cleanup days at Greenwood Cemetery, or support this and our other charities with a donation.
Meet our Post Commander: Larry Mathis → · More coverage: News & Recognition → · Other ways we give back: Programs & Charities →