[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 487 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 487

     Commemorating the centennial of the American Battle Monuments 
                              Commission.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 6, 2023

    Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Tester) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the century of service by the American 
        Battle Monuments Commission and their personnel who have worked 
        to honor the service and sacrifices of our fallen warriors and 
        those who fought at their side;
            (2) commends the work done by the American Battle Monuments 
        Commission to oversee and execute commemorative events at 
        cemeteries and memorials, especially for the benefit of 
        veterans and families who return to those sacred grounds on 
        milestone anniversaries or dates of personal significance;
            (3) supports the efforts of the American Battle Monuments 
        Commission to educate the coming generations, young Americans, 
        and young people from around the world on the sacrifices made 
        by those American soldiers, sailors, aviators, Marines, and 
        members of the Coast Guard who died during military service and 
        are buried or memorialized on the sacred grounds they steward;
            (4) encourages all people of the United States to visit and 
        pay their respects to those interred in cemeteries maintained 
        by the American Battle Monuments Commission overseas who died 
        fighting against tyranny;
            (5) lauds the continued mission carried out with excellence 
        by the American Battle Monuments Commission; and
            (6) wishes the American Battle Monuments Commission 
        continued success for another 100 years and beyond.
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