A short history of ABMC from World War 1 to World War 2 and beyond

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) was established by Congress in 1923 as an independent federal agency to oversee its sacred mission in perpetuity. As the guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and military memorials worldwide, ABMC honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed Forces.

For 100 years, ABMC has ensured that the memories of those who fell abroad defending the U.S. and those they served with, never die. Our promise is unbroken, and our mission is timeless as we enter our second century. ABMC continues to stay true to the mission given by Gen. of the Armies John J. Pershing to ensure that, “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

More than 200,000 service men and women are buried or memorialized at ABMC sites from six different conflicts, spanning from the Mexican-American War through some of our nation’s most recent conflicts with the greatest number being those who fell during World War I and World War II.

Every person who died in wartime service deserves to be remembered and accounted for, including the more than 10,500 service members buried as unknowns in our cemeteries and the more than 94,000 individuals named on the Walls and Tablets of the Missing at ABMC sites.