…cemeteries where are loved ones are buried includes two veterans, one military exempt because he was a railroad worker, and various others important to us. If you have the time this weekend you can pay your respects by visiting virtual cemeteries, websites, and databases compiled in remembrance of the sacrifices and service in behalf of us all:
American Military Cemeteries and Memorials: National and State
Virginia Military Dead—The Library of Virginia in Richmond has indexed and placed summaries into an online database of military dead, French and Indian Wars through Iraq. This includes Lord Dunmore’s War in 1774, a preliminary part of the Revolutionary War.
National Cemetery Registry, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20420. For those killed in action or who served and died since, might be buried under a white cross.
Gold Star Pilgrimages—The United State Government arranged trips to Europe for mothers, and widows of soldiers who fought in World War I and who died and were buried overseas. Stepmothers were also qualified to go. There were a total of 6,730 who indicated their desire to travel to graves in France, 1930-33. Most states published their lists in newspapers which circulated throughout the state. See “105 North Dakota War Mothers and Widows Make the Trip in 1930,” Red River Valley Genealogical Society (July 2008): 270-72, article appeared in the Fargo Forum 26 Feb 1930; and “Gold Star Mothers of Virginia,” Arlene Eakle’s Virginia Genealogy Scrapbooks, Number 1. The lists include Women’s Names, Soldiers’ Names, Rank, Cemetery of Burial, and the date of the Trip. The French cemeteries now have U.S. National Cemetery Parks and Memorials. See http://ancestry.com for online database of all the women eligible for the trip based on the 1929 report to the President.
http://www.memorialdayfoundation.org includes an article by John W. Graham, “History of the Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage” with a history of the trips provided. The Memorial Day Foundation, 33 Orient Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, Phone: 718-383-7550. This site is dedicated to expanding respect for Memorial Day.
http://www.goldstarmoms.com an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country: a Veterans Service Organization, established 4 June 1928 and chartered by the United States Congress in 1984. American Gold Star Mothers continue to honor our sons and daughters through service–service to veterans and patriotic events.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Honor Roll Searchable database maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
WWII Memorial Registry honors the 16 million Armed Forces personnel who served in the War from the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Three official U.S. Government databases are maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) or the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These official databases include names of Americans who are:
| Buried in ABMC overseas military cemeteries. | ||
| Memorialized on ABMC Tablets of the Missing. | ||
| Listed on War and Navy Department Killed in Service rosters held by NARA. |
| The fourth database—the Registry of Remembrances—is an unofficial compilation of public acknowledgements honoring U.S. citizens who helped to win the Second World War. Includes photographs and artifacts. |
| The American Battle Monuments Commission makes no attempt to validate the historical accuracy of information submitted for the unofficial Registry of Remembrances, nor do they limit the number of enrollments honoring individuals. | ||
| The Registry of Remembrances is simply your opportunity to offer a public “thank you” to family members, friends, comrades-in-arms, and anyone else whose service inspires you to submit an enrollment in their honor. | ||
| Registry of Remembrances records may be corrected or modified only by those who submitted them. |
http://www.wlhs-ny.org/NationalMemorialDayMuseum.html National Memorial Day Museum, Waterloo NY.
Wreaths Across America PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623
Phone: (207) 470-0967: Toll Free: (877) 385-9504.You can sponsor wreaths for military heroes across the country.
American Battle Monuments Commission http://www.abmc.gov More than 218,000 Americans are buried or memorialized overseas in 24 American cemeteries on foreign soil. Korean War Veterans Memorial Honor Roll Searchable database maintained by American Battle Monuments Commission.
American Overseas Memorial Day Association, (AOMDA) http://www.aomda.com/
- Placing of flags in American Military Cemeteries is done through the cooperation of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
- For the 300 isolated graves in 275 localities in France, the AOMDA contacts local officials, civic and veteran’s organizations or individuals (sometimes next-of-kin) to arrange for placing of the flags. Fresh flags are mailed annually by the AOMDA to the person assuming responsibility for decoration of each grave.
- For graves in Denmark (120), Norway (120) and Sweden (12), the AOMDA sends flags to the American Embassies. The Embassies decorate the graves in Denmark and Norway, while the local American Legion Post places the flags in Sweden.
- In Germany, local American Legion Posts provide and place the flags.
- In addition, the AOMDA finances the purchase of floral wreaths for the Memorial Day Ceremonies at World War I and II Cemeteries in England, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Tunisia. The AOMDA committee in Brussels furnishes wreaths for the Ceremonies in Belgium.
In addition to the placement of American flags on graves the AOMDA coordinates & sponsors the annual Memorial Day ceremonies at American Military cemeteries in Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Tunisia and the United Kingdom with support from American Embassies, Consulates, the American Battle Monuments Commission and American Legion Posts and local groups.
These Ceremonies include the participation of American and National Military Units, American and National Government Officials as well as Local Authorities. The Ceremonies have become important annual events in the lives of many communities and their residents. The Ceremonies are international testimonials of remembrance and gratitude for the sacrifices made by Americans on behalf of Europeans in two World Wars.
American Overseas Memorial Day Belgian Association http://www.aomda.org/ A truly unforgettable experience! Join in on Memorial Day weekend at one of the three American cemeteries in Belgium. The Flanders Field, Ardennes, and Henri-Chapelle American Cemeteries are open year round, but once a year they host thousands for traditional ceremonies of remembrance.
http://www.rollingthunder1.com Rolling Thunder–Using motorcycles to provide the rolling thunder, these Vietnam Vets support remembrance of POW-MIA’s from Vietnam, Gulf War, and other military actions.
http://www.namknights.org, NamKnights–American Military Veteran and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.
http://www.dignitymemorial.com The Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall has traveled the U.S. in memory of those who have given their lives for freedom. After more than 20 years in circulation, the Wall has temporarily retired. It is now on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., where it was formally dedicated in March 2014 and will be housed for the next five years, providing healing for the hundreds of thousands of people who will visit the memorial at its new home.
http://worldwar1.com Newsletter of the Great War Society, blog, publications, events, music, and search site for World War 1. Look for articles in the newsletter June 2005 on the Gold Star Pilgrimages.
Veterans Administration National Cemetery System—http://www.cem.va.gov National Gravesite Locator online database of burials. The database of burial information is updated each day. Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker.
The Nationwide Gravesite Locator includes burial records from many sources. These sources provide varied data; some searches may contain less information than others. Information on veterans buried in private cemeteries was collected for the purpose of furnishing government grave markers, and we do not have information available for burials prior to 1997.
If you cannot locate the person you are searching for, please provide the following information on each individual:
- Full name, including any alternate spellings
- Date and place of birth
- Date and place of death
- State from which the individual entered active duty
- Military service branch
Most requests take approximately four weeks for a reply. Be sure to include your return mailing address, phone number or Internet e-mail address with your request and send it to: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration (43A1) Burial Location Request, 810 Vermont Ave. NW Washington, DC 20420.
Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle
PS The Sun is such a welcome visitor because it has rained every day in Northern Utah since the 150th Anniversary of the Joining of the Rails at Golden Spike! It sprinkled that day too!