A resolution commemorating the centennial of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Whereas the American Battle Monuments Commission, also known as the “ABMC”, was founded by Congress on March 4, 1923, to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces through perpetually maintained cemeteries and memorials;

Whereas the American Battle Monuments Commission, for 100 years, has maintained the vision of General of the Armies John J. Pershing that time will not dim the glory of their deeds;

Whereas, in 1927, then-Major Dwight D. Eisenhower, of Abilene, Kansas, was assigned to the American Battle Monuments Commission and helped compose A Guide to the American Battle Fields in Europe, which he later helped to revise and expand to American Armies and Battlefields in Europe: A History, Guide, and Reference Book, a guidebook for Americans traveling overseas to visit battle sites, cemeteries, and memorials of World War I;

Whereas, in 1928 and 1929, during the revision and expansion of that guidebook in Paris, France, then-Major Eisenhower gained critical geographic and cultural knowledge of Europe that would prove crucial during World War II;

Whereas, in 1944, during World War II, the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery was established as the first American cemetery on European soil, eventually becoming the Normandy American Cemetery, which is the most visited cemetery maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission;

Whereas, in 2023, the American Battle Monuments Commission celebrates 100 years of service to members of our Armed Forces and their families;

Whereas the workforce of the American Battle Monuments Commission is comprised of dedicated civil service professionals and locally engaged staff in countries around the globe;

Whereas the American Battle Monuments Commission administers, operates, and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries and 32 Federal memorials, monuments, and markers, which are located in 17 foreign countries and territories, primarily commemorating the American war dead from World War I and World War II;

Whereas approximately 124,000 American war dead are buried in cemeteries operated by the American Battle Monuments Commission, and more than 94,000 Americans who were lost, missing in action, or buried at sea during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War are remembered by name on stone tablets at cemeteries and memorials maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission; and

Whereas the American Battle Monuments Commission seeks to educate the public on the history and sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces of the United States honored at cemeteries and memorials around the world: Now, therefore, be it