There will be many Memorial Day observances here in the U.S. this weekend, but loved ones of service members buried abroad can rest assured their veterans will not be forgotten.
The American Overseas Memorial Day Association (AOMDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the memory of those who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, whose final resting places are in American military cemeteries or separate graves all over Europe and even Africa.
The AOMDA’s mission is to make sure those veterans are always remembered on Memorial Day and other appropriate patriotic holidays by decorating the graves, tombs, and monuments of American servicemen and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Auxiliary Services buried overseas.
The AOMDA has staff in Paris and Brussels, but enlists the help of local embassies,civic and veterans organizations—and sometimes, if possible, next-of-kin volunteers– to place new flags every year on the hundreds of isolated graves in France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, according to its website. The group also pays for floral wreaths for Memorial Day ceremonies at World War I and II cemeteries in England, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and even Tunisia.
Founded in 1920, AOMDA representatives help coordinate and sponsor annual Memorial Day ceremonies in cities and local towns all over Europe, which have become significant community events where residents can pay their respects and express their gratitude for the sacrifices made by American veterans on behalf of Europeans in two World Wars.
The Belgian affiliate of the AOMDA has a Facebook page where followers can share their information and experiences from Memorial Day ceremonies. Some observances have started already.
“Today was Bastogne’s Memorial Day ceremony with participation by US, UK, F, and B armed forces. The citizens of Bastogne remember!” one recent Facebook post read.
“First day of Memorial Day weekend with ceremonies at Kemmel, Lijssennthoek, and Ronse. Thank you Gen. Hogg … for making the day special,” read another.
The organization runs on individual donations and membership dues, and gets help from the American Legion Headquarters, and many local businesses, civic and vets groups. For more information on the AOMDA or a schedule of this weekend’s ceremonies, check out their website at http://aomda.com/.
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