Five area residents have compiled histories of servicemen from the area who lost their lives fighting for our country.

The latest edition of the book “No One Forgets” is now available locally. The book, which documents all of the servicemen from Chautauqua County who have lost their lives in our nations wars, is in its fifth edition and hard cover.

This project is a not-for-profit collaboration between Richard Titus, John Kuzdale and John Fedyszyn of Dunkirk and George H Burns III and Ryan Deas of Fredonia. The book, which is approximately 450 pages long contains the pictures and narratives for many of these heroes, and the names of others where detailed information has not yet been located.

The project began in 2011 as a result of research Burns was doing for the annual Memorial Day service, and similar work Titus was involved in. The stories of these men were so compelling that the two decided to write a book so that the memories of those who gave their lives would not be lost to future generations. Initially, the book was focused on World War two and the communities of Dunkirk and Fredonia. As more research was conducted it was decided to include the entire county and to expand into all our nations conflicts.

Individuals with subject matter expertise were enlisted in this endeavor. Fedyszyn had first-hand experience slugging it out in Vietnam and was the author for that section of the book. Likewise, Kuzdale is a War of 1812 expert and Deas has in depth knowledge of the Civil War. Burns is the overall coordinator while Titus does a lot of the legwork visiting local cemeteries and talking to surviving families.

The cover of each edition features a local hero whose story is particularly striking. The fifth edition features Corporal Louis Charles Maid, US Marine Corps, who was killed during the historic Battle Of Chosin Reservoir in Korea 1950. Past editions featured PFC Harry Kaus USMC, who was killed in Vietnam, and sailors and airmen killed in World War II.

Most copies of the book are donated to surviving families and World War II veterans, local libraries as well as the Dunkirk Lighthouse and Historical Society. The book may be purchased locally at the Papaya Arts store on the Dunkirk boardwalk as well as at the Dunkirk Lighthouse.

Families of veterans killed in our nations wars are welcome to provide information for future editions of the book.

The project will perhaps never be complete as there are many names, particularly in the south county, where detailed information and pictures are not available