Melissa is Michael's older sister. For over two decades, she has dedicated herself to keeping his memory alive — and keeping the Marines he served with, alongside a growing nationwide circle of veterans and Gold Star Families, connected to one another.
In a 2005 interview, shortly after Michael was killed in Fallujah, Melissa was asked what defined her brother. Her answer became the foundation of everything that followed: "He had everyone's back."
Losing Michael changed the trajectory of Melissa's life. It forged an unbreakable bond between her and the Marines who fought beside him in Lima Company, 3/1. Over time, she became someone veterans and families reached out to when navigating deep grief, seeking lost unit members, or confronting severe emotional distress.
She founded the Michael Wayne Hanks Legacy Foundation in 2023 to institutionalize nearly twenty years of informal advocacy into structured, enduring programs. Remembrance means very little in isolation — it requires sustained, real-world human contact.
"He was always standing up for the guys there. He had everyone's back — that sums it up." — Melissa Hanks Ketchel, 2005
It is Melissa's shorthand for the uncomfortable moment most people avoid: picking up the phone, asking the direct question, and staying on the line long enough to hear the real answer.
Explore The TrainingShe delivers this message to military units, veteran associations, Gold Star gatherings, and civilian groups — not as dry clinical theory, but as permission.
You don't need a medical degree to notice that a friend has pulled away or gone silent. Her framework pairs genuine permission with practical, lifesaving intervention: identifying behavioral shifts, breaking acute isolation, de-escalating means of harm, and connecting an individual with trusted clinical or peer support.
Peer-driven, plain-language workshops built from certified crisis models to help people lean into uncomfortable check-ins.
Preserving the stories and lineage of the fallen, and reuniting families directly with their loved one’s brothers and sisters in arms.
Direct, hands-on advocacy cutting red tape for VA benefits, mental health resources, and state-level memorial designations.
Honoring All Next of Kin & Survivors — an active nationwide registry to guarantee units and families never lose contact again.
Following Michael's death in Fallujah, Melissa reached out to the Marines of 3/1. She quickly realized grief was not something families bore alone — surviving veterans carried that weight too.
Over two continuous decades, Melissa has actively engaged in direct crisis response, peer check-ins, and proactive community support across the country.
Joined the board of Beer for the Fallen, an initiative encouraging individuals to speak the names of fallen service members, helping establish it as an active 501(c)(3) organization.
Founded the 501(c)(3) to formalize her long-term advocacy into repeatable programs and initiated regular national public speaking engagements.
Authored a chapter detailing her personal story of loss, enduring brotherhood, and rediscovering purpose after catastrophe.
Began coordinating with WRF to reunite combat veterans and Gold Star Families at no-cost, healing-centered unit gatherings.
Keynote speaker at the National Museum of the Marine Corps alongside veterans of the Second Battle of Fallujah.
Presented on the unique experience of Gold Star siblings and transforming grief into tangible community leadership.
After serving as Vice President, she was chosen to lead the association connecting thousands of active-duty Marines, veterans, and surviving families of 3/1.
After navigating Michigan's complex designation process for seven years, Melissa testified before state lawmakers. In July 2026, Governor Whitmer signed Public Act 65 officially naming the I-96 bridge in Fowlerville the LCpl Michael W. Hanks Memorial Bridge.
Melissa speaks to military commands, veteran organizations, and corporate conferences on grief, resilient peer leadership, and proactive suicide intervention.