American Battle Monuments Commission

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is a small independent agency of the United States government. Established by Congress in 1923, it is responsible for:

*Commemorating the services of the U.S. armed forces where they have served since April 6, 1917 (the date of U.S. entry into World War I)
*Establishing suitable memorial shrines; designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining permanent American military burial grounds in foreign countries
*Controlling the design and construction of U.S. military monuments and markers in foreign countries by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private
*Encouraging the maintenance of such monuments and markers by their sponsors

The Commission administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. As of May 2006, there are 124,917 U.S. war dead interred at these cemeteries: 30,921 of World War I, 93,246 of World War II and 750 of the Mexican-American War. Additionally 6,033 American veterans and others are interred in the Mexico City and Corozal American Cemeteries.

Complete sortable list of ABMC cemeteries

:

Complete sortable list of ABMC monuments

:

Chairmen of the ABMC

*John J. Pershing (1923-1948)
*George Marshall (1949-1959)
*Jacob L. Devers (1960-1969)
*Mark W. Clark (1969-1984)
*Andrew Goodpaster (1985-1990)
*Paul X. Kelley (1991-1994, 2001-2005)
*Fred F. Woerner (1994-2001)
*Frederick M. Franks, Jr. (2005-)

References

possible sources for continued research can include:

*Nishiura, Elizabeth, editor, "American Battle Monuments: A Guide to Military Cemeteries and Monuments Maintained By the American Battle Monuments Commission", Omnigraphics Inc., Detroit, Michigan 1989

Bibliography

*cite book|author=American Battle Monuments Commission|title=American armies and battlefields in Europe: a history, guide, and reference book|publisher=U.S.G.P.O.|year=1938 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=31 Selected photos available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]
*cite book|author=American Battle Monuments Commission|title=American armies and battlefields in Europe: a history, guide, and reference book|publisher=U.S.G.P.O.|year=1938 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/ww1/maps.aspx Maps available online through the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State's Washington History collection]
*Nishiura, Elizabeth, editor, "American Battle Monuments: A Guide to Military Cemeteries and Monuments Maintained By the American Battle Monuments Commission", Omnigraphics Inc., Detroit, Michigan 1989

External links

* [http://www.abmc.gov/ Official website]

ee also

*Commonwealth War Graves Commission