Have you heard of the American Battle Monuments Commission?

2015-04-21T14:53:56-04:00

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Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 21 at 2015 3:20 PM

2015-04-21T15:20:41-04:00

Yes, of course. Did you have a specific question about the Commission?

http://www.abmc.gov/

American Battle Monuments Commission

New visitor centers opened last year at Pointe du Hoc, Cambridge American Cemetery and Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Learn more about these sites that are free and open to the public.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Apr 21 at 2015 3:31 PM

2015-04-21T15:31:42-04:00

Absolutely ... My dad (US Army Corps of Engineers) served many years on the American Battle Monuments Commission and was the Project Engineer for the vast majority of the WWII military cemeteries/memorials in Europe and the Punchbowl Cemetery/Memorial of the Pacific in Hawaii.

When I was assigned in Naples, Italy in the late 80's, my boss, an Army LTG (0-9), and I had to go to the Nettuno/Anzio Cemetery to coordinate the prep for a visit of the President of the United States in a few weeks. The Cemetery/Memorial Director, a very old Army Colonel, saw my name and told me that he had worked for my dad in the 60's. The colonel had been on active duty for over 50 years (the last 20 or more with the Battle Monuments Commission). Officers assigned to the ABMC are considered still on active duty, well past the mandatory retirement age/time in grade/service. He was at least 75-80 years old, if he was a day old.