Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration Lecture Series

 

Those Who Lay in France: The American Battle Monuments Commission and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider

Written and presented by Benjamin D. Brands, Historian, American Battle Monuments Commission


In this episode, American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Historian Benjamin D. Brands explains the connections between the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and America’s overseas military cemeteries. He explores the shared mission of Arlington National Cemetery and ABMC in honoring and remembering America’s unknown fallen service members. This story is critical to understanding the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Listen Here:  Those Who Lay in France: The American Battle Monuments Commission and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 

Benjamin D. Brands is a historian with the American Battle Monuments Commission and a Ph.D. candidate in history at George Mason University. He previously served as an infantry officer in the United States Army, and he has taught military history at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Oregon State University.


To learn more about ABMC’s connections to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, read the guest blog article from ABMC.

View ABMC’s Tomb Centennial commemorative pamphlet here.


 

General of the Armies John J. Pershing salutes the Unknown Soldier in the Capitol Rotunda. (DVIDs, New York National Guard)

 


 

Aisne Marne American Cemetery in France is the final resting place of more than 2,000 Americans who died during World War I. (Photo by Warrick Page, courtesy of ABMC)

 


 

The headstone of an unidentified service member at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. (Photo by Warrick Page, courtesy of ABMC)

 


The Walls of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. (Photo by Warrick Page, courtesy of ABMC)


 

Selection of the European Unknown Candidate from World War II at Epinal American Cemetery in France, May 12, 1958. (National Archives)