Published November 1964 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
From the Office of United States Senator Robert C. Byrd Room 342, Old Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Volume IV – Number 44 11/6/64 Byrd's Eye View A Public Service Column by Senator Robert C. Byrd Commemorative Photographs Veterans' Day, November 11, is best remembered by many Americans as Armistice Day. Originally established as a day to commemorate cessation of hostilities in World War I, it is now designated as Veterans' Day in honor of all who fought in wars of defense of our Country. It affords a suitable opportunity to bring to the attention of the American public a program, unique in character, administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Through action by the Congress to provide funds, the Commission will now furnish free of charge, upon request by the next of kin of American service personnel buried in American cemeteries abroad, one 13x17 aerial lithograph, in color, of the appropriate cemetery end memorial where the particular serviceman is buried. Also, it will furnish one 3x5 black and white close-up photograph of the particular gravesite and headstone, with the smaller photograph mounted in the corner of the larger one. In the case of the ''Missing'', a close-up photograph of the memorial wall, showing the section where the individual serviceman's name is inscribed, is furnished. Additionally, families of servicemen buried in any of the cemeteries abroad, under the authority of the Commission, can request and receive maps end directions to assist them in reaching the cemetery and grave-site with ease should a trip be undertaken to visit the last resting place of a loved one killed in battle and interred abroad. For such trips, a token fee of only $1 for each passport is charged by the State Department rather than the normal $10 fee charged for such service. As the major part of its unique mission, the Battle Monuments Commission is responsible for the operation and maintenance of military cemeteries and memorials built by the U.S. Government on foreign soil, as well as certain monuments on American soil. It has no part in the construction, operation, or maintenance of cemeteries in the U.S. or its possessions. After World War I, the Commission erected a memorial chapel in each of the 8 military cemeteries established in Europe by the War Department. These were Aisne-Marne, Belleau, France; Brookwood, England; Flanders Field, Waregem, Belgium; Meuse-Argonne, Romagne, France; Oise-Aisne, Fere, France; St. Mihiel, Thiaucourt, France; Somme, Bony, France; Suresnes, France. After World War I, 14 additional permanent cemeteries were established, including Ardennes, Neuville, Belgium; Brittany, St. James, Frace; Cambridge, England; Epinal France; Florence, Italy; Henri-Chapelle, Belgium; Lorraine, St. Avold France; Luxembourg; Maila, Philippines; Netherlands, Margraten, Holland; Normandy, St. Laurent, France; North Africa, Carthage, Tunisia; Rhone, Draguignan, France; Sicily-Rome, Nettuno, Italy. The graves in these cemeteries represent approximately 39 percent of those originally buried in each particular region. The remains of the other 61 percent were returned home at the request of next of kin. Each grave is marked with a white marble headstone—a Star of David for those of Jewish faith, and a Latin Cross for all others. No further burials are permitted in any of these areas, but these burial grounds are open to the public every day in the year. -30-