All American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries will be closed to the public during Memorial Day 2021 commemorations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press release
ARLINGTON, Va. (May. 18, 2021) – Memorial Day ceremonies at all American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) sites will be closed to the general public in order to ensure the health and safety of our staff and visitors.
The ABMC cemeteries that are currently open, will reopen after the ceremonies are complete.
As in 2020, ABMC is pleased to offer the public the opportunity to participate in virtual ceremonies.
On May 31, 2021, two pre-recorded ceremonies will be broadcast via the agency’s digital and social media platforms commemorating the sacrifice of our nation’s Armed Forces:
The World War I Memorial Day Ceremony livestream, pre-recorded at Suresnes American Cemetery, will be available for viewers on May 31, 2021, starting at 10 a.m. (EST)/ 4 p.m. (CET).
The World War II Memorial Day Ceremony livestream, pre-recorded at Epinal American Cemetery, will be available for viewers on May 31, 2021, starting at 11 a.m. (EST)/ 5 p.m. (CET).
Both of ceremonies may be viewed on ABMC Facebook page or on our YouTube channel.
These two virtual ceremonies represent the commemorative efforts of each ABMC cemetery and were executed with great care, consideration, and commitment; ensuring the more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at ABMC sites around the world are remembered.
All ABMC sites will hold private ceremonies on Memorial Day to honor the service, achievements and sacrifices of the U.S. Armed Forces and fulfill the promise of ABMC’s first Chairman, General of the Armies John J. Pershing that “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”
Our ceremonies would not be complete without the support and contributions of our partners such as the U.S. European Command, the U.S. Embassies in our host countries, as well as our host nation local authorities and communities throughout the world.
ABMC encourages our audiences to follow us on our ABMC social media platforms @usabmc and to visit our website at abmc.gov to get our latest updates including the operating status of our cemeteries.
#
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) operates and maintains 26 cemeteries and 32 federal memorials, monuments, and commemorative plaques in 17 countries throughout the world, including the United States. The four memorials in the United States are: the World War I Memorial in Washington, DC; the Honolulu memorial located within the National Memorial of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI; the West Coast Memorial located within the Presidio National Park in San Francisco, CA; and the East Coast Memorial located within Battery City Park in New York, NY. Since April 6, 1917, ABMC’s sacred mission remains to honor the service, achievements, and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at our sites. For more information about ABMC, visit abmc.gov.
Media Contact
Media members requiring additional information or footage of Memorial Day 2021 may contact the ABMC Public Affairs Office:
Megan McSeveney
Office: +1 (703) 584 1534
Cell: +1 (571) 388 0912
Email: McSeveneyM@abmc.gov
Hélène Chaulin
Office: +33 (0)1 40 75 27 55
Cell: +33 (0)6 38 13 56 25
Email: ChaulinH@abmc.gov