Iron Legacy Project is a veteran-support nonprofit forming in Idaho. When a veteran is going through a hard season, we send them a custom challenge coin shaped like a military dog tag — designed to be worn around the neck — along with a personal letter of encouragement and a small care package: a tangible reminder that their service and their struggle are both seen, and that they are not forgotten.
Everything we do is built around three words: Honor. Remind. Sharpen.
We honor the sacrifices every veteran has given, and honor their service to our nation, regardless of era, branch, or discharge status.
Every dog-tag coin and letter is a reminder to a veteran that they are loved, appreciated, and worthy, sent at a moment when it may be needed most.
We believe recovery and resilience happen in relationship; we aim to strengthen and sharpen a veteran's future, not just supply for their present.
Veterans facing financial hardship, isolation, mental health struggles, or a difficult transition often say the same thing: once they leave the structure and camaraderie of service, it's easy to feel forgotten. Existing veteran services often focus on financial or medical help but leave a gap around morale and connection. Iron Legacy Project exists to fill that specific gap — not to replace clinical, financial, or housing support, but to complement it with a simple, high-meaning gesture.
A custom Iron Legacy Project challenge coin, shaped like a dog tag and designed to be worn around the neck.
A personal letter of encouragement and support from other veterans and civilians.
A resource card listing crisis and support contacts, including the Veterans Crisis Line.
Veterans are identified through nomination — by family, fellow veterans, chaplains, or partner organizations such as VFW posts, American Legion chapters, and local Vet Centers. Every veteran we honor is kept 100% confidential by default: names and stories are never shared publicly unless the veteran explicitly chooses to share them.
Iron Legacy Project isn't a one-time gesture. Our Chaplain and groups of volunteers stay in touch with the veterans we reach, building a real bond over time and checking in on them — not just sending a package and moving on. As the organization grows, we plan to hold quarterly dinners where all veterans impacted by the program can come together, fellowship with one another, and build lasting community.
Alongside the coin and care package program, Iron Legacy Project maintains a Chaplain Program to provide spiritual and emotional support — helping shape letters of encouragement, serving as a point of contact for recipients, and offering pastoral support to volunteers and veterans reached by the program.
Because we can't access veteran contact information directly from the VA or Department of Defense, partnerships are central to how we operate. We work with VFW and American Legion posts, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services and local Vet Centers, veteran-serving churches and chaplains, and local community groups — who help identify veterans to reach and spread awareness of the mission.
Iron Legacy Project is self-funded and volunteer-driven. Any gift, at any amount, helps us reach another veteran — and we're always looking for volunteers to write letters, assemble care packages, and help connect us with veterans in the community. No special experience is required, just a willingness to serve.