PBS documentary follows Marine honoring fallen comrades with crosses

Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen follows Marine veteran Anthony Marquez as he hand-carves and delivers battlefield crosses to the families of 17 fallen comrades, seeking healing and honoring their legacy.

Thursday, May 22nd 2025, 9:05 am

By: Brooke Cox

Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen is a documentary that follows Marine veteran Anthony Marquez on a personal mission to honor the memory of 17 fellow Marines lost during “Operation Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan.

The film, directed by Manny Marquez and produced by Anthony Marquez, explores the emotional toll of survivor’s guilt and the enduring impact of military loss on service members and their communities.

Narrative and Purpose

Haunted by the loss of his unit, Anthony Marquez seeks healing by reconnecting with the families of the fallen. He does so by carving and hand-delivering battlefield crosses—wooden memorials traditionally used to honor service members killed in combat.

Each delivery serves as a tribute and a gesture of solidarity with Gold Star families, as well as a step toward the veteran’s own emotional recovery.

Production Timeline and Locations

The project took three years to complete and was filmed at various locations across the United States. The filmmakers traveled extensively to meet with families, capture their stories, and document the deeply personal interactions that define the film’s narrative arc.

Themes and Insights

Upon completing the film, the creators emphasized the critical importance of remembering both the fallen and their families.

The documentary underscores how remembrance, personal sacrifice, and healing intersect in the lives of veterans and Gold Star families. It presents a broader commentary on grief, honor, and the long-term emotional consequences of war.