You have uncovered a lot of info in a short period of time, good luck, I will be curious to see the outcome. As an ex investigator I can only offer this advice. Don't let your investigation consume you. That helmet will be around a lot longer than you will. As another user stated, it is a marathon not a race. Best of luck!!!!

Bambi    Very good examples ! Welcome aboard    Tony

Donating Pfc. Swanson's flag to the person or family who tends his grave in the Netherlands strikes me as being the best suggestion yet. I think I have exhausted the possibilities of finding a family member period. If this were a piece of field gear or even a uniform, I wouldn't think twice about keeping and or selling it, but a burial flag in it's original box? He was 20 years old and had been in service only 1-1/2 years, to me it's a very personal item. It should be with someone who feels at least a close connection to him, whether the actually knew him or not.  I had thought about trying to reach this person in the Netherlands before, but that organization states that only family members are allowed to do so. I wonder if they might allow an exception since I've tried my best to find anyone left in his family with no success? I will contact them about this soon, as I'd like to see this resolved and done.  Thanks to all for the comments and suggestions, it helps.   Steve

Alright all, so I started to work on filling out the SF-180 form since it doesn’t require any sensitive info. But I have a few questions that maybe some of you can answer. When I was going through this it asked for my relationship to the veteran? I have no relationship? So what should I put? I was also reading through the instructions and it said that once the records were found there was a fee needed? Does this apply to all files? Or only some? Or did I read it wrong? If so (if someone’s done this before) how much does it usually cost? Thanks for all your help. Let me know if any of these questions ring a bell. Thanks!

Here is a better view of my 1884 Springfield trapdoor carbine.    

Pfc. Francis L. Swanson Here is his home. 127 East Main Steet Plainville Connecticut.

.         ….       Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, July  08  2O25.  

should go good with one of my grenades. don't see these around any more.

Proceed in this manner..... Keep it in your collection and when you are ready pass it along to its next caretaker. Sell it eventually to another collector and it will continue on, as people will take care of things they respect and know  or have an appreciation for and have paid good money for. My 2 cents. Or.... you could get in touch with the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten and find out if you can contact the person who tends or who has adopted Pfc. Francis L. Swanson's grave. And donate the flag to that person. Send it to them.