The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is a small independent agency of the United States government. Established by Congress in 1923, it is responsible for: * Commemorating the services of the U.S. armed forces where they have served since April 6, 1917 (the date of U.S. entry into World War I) * Establishing suitable memorial shrines; designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining permanent American military burial grounds in foreign countries * Controlling the design and construction of U.S. military monuments and markers in foreign countries by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private * Encouraging the maintenance of such monuments and markers by their sponsors