Where Americans Rest in Peace

 

The Normandy American Cemetery sits on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, the one featured so powerfully in “Saving Private Ryan.  It’s the most well-known and most visited ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission) Cemetery.

But it’s just one of 25 monuments and cemeteries in France alone, and hardly the largest.  It’s one among a global network of fields honoring America’s war dead. 

The ABMC worldwide

The ABMC manages 26 beautifully manicured cemeteries around the world. Further, located in Europe, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Philippines, and Tunisia.  Also, there are an additional 32 war monuments as far away as New Zealand.  

Robert Dalessandro motto is: “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.” He is a former U.S. Army officer, a historian, and author.  This Gulf War veteran is the deputy secretary and leader of the ABMC. He is responsible for the ABMC’s mission.  Which is preserving the memory of more than 200,000 Americans.  These include men and women either killed or missing in action in wars overseas. 

 

From the smallest to the largest

Approximately, 1,600 Americans, mostly from World War I, rest at the small Suresnes American Cemetery. It stands on a hill that offers sweeping views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

The largest ABMC cemetery is in the Philippines, on a crest overlooking Manila. There rests 16,859 military dead who were killed in the Pacific in World War II. That cemetery also honors 36,286 individuals missing in action.  

Specifically, the American military cemeteries around the world have been preparing for Memorial Day ceremonies for weeks.

The ABMC

The ABMC was created in 1923, in the aftermath of the slaughter of World War I.  Chiefly when 117,000 Americans were killed in just a few short months of combat.

Additionally, families whose loved ones were killed in combat were given two options.  The first was having the body repatriated to the United States.  The second was having the remains interred, overseas, at an American military cemetery.  There they would be cared for, in perpetuity, by the United States government.

Not All are Known

40% of American families chose to have their sons and daughters buried in Europe. Unfortunately, there are gravestones that contain the remains of thousands who were never identified. 

“However, every day, we make sure that those cemeteries are perfectly maintained.   They are ready at any moment for visitation by anyone,” Dalessandro said. 

“I believe we have the most sacred mission of any government agency,” he told Fox News Digital.  And we do that to honor those who rest there. It is a tremendous responsibility. “

Source:  Fox News©