[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 201 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5810-S5811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 487--COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN 
                      BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

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

                              S. Res. 487

       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

[[Page S5811]]

     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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