“We Leave You Our Deaths, Give Them Their Meaning”: The Mission of the American Battle Monuments Commission

Tim Nosal, Director of Public Affairs for the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), will introduce attendees to the history of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Founded in 1923, the ABMC commemorates the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces. Today, the ABMC administers 26 overseas military cemeteries, and 27 memorials, monuments, and markers.

Using ABMC primary sources, Mr. Nosal will describe the choices families of fallen servicemembers faced: their loved one could be buried or memorialized in a U.S. military cemetery overseas, buried in a U.S. military cemetery in the U.S., or buried in a private cemetery of the family’s choice.

He will also discuss the genesis behind the idea to create a year-long professional development program for middle and high school teachers, focused on understanding America’s involvement in various wars and conflicts. He will provide a brief overview of the program’s format, from selection of the teachers to the final materials created, discuss lessons learned, and share the impact the program has had on the agency, its audiences, and constituents.