American Battle Monuments Commission
10/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 01:38
1,000 portraits of servicemen and women exhibited at St. Mihiel American Cemetery
On Sept. 14, 15 and 16, more than 1,000 portraits of servicemen and women were exhibited at St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorialto honor the lives lost during World War I.
Hosted for the anniversary of the 1918 St. Mihiel offensive, this "Faces of St. Mihiel" event was a unique day of remembrance for guests, visitors and ABMC cemetery staff who supported the event and could put a face to a name and honor those fallen Americans.
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More than 1,000 portraits of servicemen and women were exhibited among the graves at St. Mihiel American Cemetery for the anniversary of the 1918 St. Mihiel offensive of World War I, from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16, 2024.
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Portraits were also exhibited inside the memorial chapel where visitors can see the Wall of the Missing.
"We wanted to honor and bring the memory of these Americans to life while we commemorate their service and sacrifice that took place more than 100 years ago, almost to the day," said Joe Alotto, superintendent of St. Mihiel American Cemetery.
Photographs were pre-positioned by ABMC staff from multiple cemeteries the days prior.
"With the help from volunteers and historians, we have collected over a thousand pictures so far, but the search continues as we take care of the legacy of 4,153 servicemen and women and 284 missing at St. Mihiel American Cemetery."
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Inside the memorial chapel at St. Mihiel American Cemetery, a large map of inlaid marble depicts the St. Mihiel Offensive.
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The "Faces of St. Mihiel" event honored World War I fallen in northeastern France with portrait photos placed by volunteers among the 4,153 headstones and inside memorial chapel at St. Mihiel American Cemetery.
This unique day of remembrance was organized to honor those Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I and continue to be remembered every day at St. Mihiel American Cemetery.