Annual Reports

The American Battle Monuments Commission— guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials— honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of the United States armed forces. Since 1923, the Commission has executed this mission by (1) commemorating the achievements and sacrifices of America’s armed forces through the erection and maintenance of suitable memorial shrines in the U.S. when authorized by Congress and where they have served overseas since April 6, 1917; (2) designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining permanent American military burial grounds in foreign countries; and (3) controlling the design and construction on foreign soil of U.S. military memorials, monuments, and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.