While watching a memorial online for a fallen fellow warrior, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Lachnit was struck by something he heard a grieving family member say ... freedom has a face.

For Lachnit, an Army Ranger in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, who has 12 deployments under his belt, the words were a catalyst. He turned to his father, Joe Lachnit Sr., and told him that they needed to show America that freedom does indeed have a face.

In August, the two launched the Freedom Has A Face website, an interactive, online memorial that includes the names, photos and profiles of all of those who have given their lives in battle, from the Civil War up to the most recent casualties.

Due to Lachnit's intense training schedule, he was unable to be reached for an interview. However, Lachnit Sr., a Vietnam veteran and proud father, co-founded the FHAF nonprofit organization and handles day-to-day operations while his son serves in uniform.

"This has been Joseph's vision from the beginning," Lachnit said. "I am just a dad trying to help a son accomplish his vision to give the memory of our fallen a future in the hearts and minds of everyday Americans."

The FHAF board is comprised of active-duty and retired servicemembers, most of whom are based at JBLM, as well as Gold Star Families.

"As a mom, it helps to know that others are remembering your son, your daughter ... or if it is your mother or father or anyone you've loved," said Lachnit's wife, Kelly, who also works tirelessly to support FHAF and has written and performed a song that plays on the webpage.

In fact, the entire point of the website is for it to serve as a virtual and comprehensive memorial wall accessible to anyone from anywhere at anytime. This way, people can honor those that they've lost without having to travel to the physical memorials and walls, which can be cost-prohibitive. It can even be accessed with personal mobile devices.

At this point, the technology for the website is complete but the board is in the process of raising funds that can cover the staffing required to support the site and monitor the addition of further names. When the funding is secured, the full website will be launched, complete with more than 7,000 completed profiles of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Once enabled, the FHAF website will use a proprietary program to scan the Internet and news outlets in order to add new names automatically. Families can also submit the names of those that they've lost.

"I want it to be supported by Americans and not American corporations, so smaller donations of $5 or $10 or whatever works for the person. We're not actively looking for large-scale donations," he said.

To make a donation to Freedom Has a Face and to view the growing virtual memorial, visit www.freedomhasaface.org and choose to get involved.

"Our goal is to reach the non-military more than the military, who are already very aware of the number of lives lost. We want to create patriotic unity and we encourage people to visit the site and honor the fallen," Lachnit concluded.