Restoration References 2
~ Dated Background on the ongoing efforts to restore the ABMC Flower Program ~
This page continues an increasing and varied stream of sentiments (from many directions) suggesting the restoration of the ABMC Flower Program.
The quiet removal (in 2015) of this highly important, highly successful, nearly 70-year-old program ~ allowing Gold Star families to individually and personally acknowledge and remember their loved ones on personal days (as well as on generic ones) was a blow to us. Our fathers and loved ones are among the last of the many THOUSANDS of Americans who were KIA or lost in WWI and WWII and who were buried or remembered in one of the 26 overseas American cemeteries that are cared for with such dignity by the ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission), an agency of the Executive Branch.
Compiled with heartfelt thanks ~ by our group Mentor ~ Retired Marine Infantry Col. Ben Cassidy, a Patriot of Patriots! ~ and Marilynn Lieurance ~ intrepid seeker of many of the most recent support letters below:
6/7/24
4/17/24
4/9/24
4/8/24
Undated
Undated
Undated
3/27/24
3/11/24
3/6/24
2/27/24
11/9/23
11/7/23
10/21/23
10/23/23
10/15/23
5/26/23
7/21/22
6/17/22
Undated
12/18/19
12/8/19
7/3/19
8/6/18
4/16/18
2/6/15
12/15/14
12/15/14
4/4/14
Strictly AWON Letters in support:
Other references (from literally dozens of candidates) are currently being considered ~ as we are Americans ~ our fathers deserve easy recognition ~ and we are not going away.
Fathers of the Restoration Team:
Links to the Tributes for the men above:
Cpt. Karl O. “Hap” Holliday: https://www.awon.org/holliday
2LT David Selby Johnson, Jr.: http://www.awon2.org/fathers/awjohnson.html
CPL Frank Maynard “Bud” Elliott: https://www.awon.org/elliott
1LT Hanford “Rusty” James Rustand: https://www.awon.org/rustand
1LT John Silas Sheffield Peirson: https://www.awon.org/peirson