- Contact the Committee

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before this Subcommittee on behalf of the
American Battle Monuments Commission.

As Chairman, it is my duty and honor to oversee Commission policies to ensure that we,
as a Nation, continue to honor appropriately the service, achievements, and sacrifices
of our American Armed Forces where they fought.

Since its creation in 1923, the Commission has served as the guardian of America’s
overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. We are committed to preserving
for future generations the twenty-four permanent memorial cemeteries and twenty-five
monuments, memorials, and markers around the world that honor America’s War Dead,
Missing in Action, and those who fought at their side.

Our inspiration comes from words written more than 70 years ago by our first Chairman,
General of the Armies John J. Pershing, who promised that “time will not dim the glory
of their deeds.” Last year we conducted a transformational review of our vision and
strategy. Remaining faithful to Pershing’s promise and, with a view to the future, we
have focused our energies and resources toward accomplishing four strategic goals:

• To develop, operate, maintain, and improve the Commission's facilities as the
world's best commemorative sites;
• To value and invest in each employee;
• To have the Commission's commemorative sites recognized worldwide as
inspirational and educational visitor destinations; and
• To make the Commission's business and resource management the best in
government.

The Commission’s fiscal year 2007 appropriation request for $40.738 million
supports these goals and continues our commitment to our worldwide mission and
responsibilities. We remain dedicated to preserving our commemorative cemeteries,
monuments, memorials, and markers in a manner befitting the achievements and
sacrifices of America’s Armed Forces.

We do this in memory of those whose sacrifice, in wars past, our commemorative
sites honor, and in respect for the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces
today who willingly follow in their footsteps, fighting for our own freedom and the
freedom of others, the most noble of missions.

Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, in keeping with our third strategic
goal of having these worldwide shrines to our fellow Americans recognized as
educational and inspirational visitor destinations, we invite you to visit our
commemorative sites as you travel abroad on Subcommittee business, to see for
yourselves the commitment our Nation has made—and continues to make through
you the Members of Congress—toward maintaining our sacred trust to America’s
War Dead and to their families. And, we ask that you encourage your constituents
to do likewise.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This concludes my opening statement.
With your permission, I would now like to introduce the Commission’s Secretary,
Brigadier General John W. Nicholson, U.S. Army (Retired), who will continue with
our testimony.