The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is a small independent agency of the Executive Branch of the United States federal government. It is responsible for:

• Commemorating the services of the American Armed Forces where they have served since April 6, 1917 (the date of U.S. entry into World War I)
• Establishing suitable memorial shrines; designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining permanent American military burial grounds in foreign countries
• Controlling the design and construction of U.S. military monuments and markers in foreign countries by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private
• Encouraging the maintenance of such monuments and markers by their sponsors

External links and references

• American Battle Monuments Commission (http://www.abmc.gov/)