Commissioner Matthew McCoy of the Rhode Island World War I Centennial Commission, and Superintendent Shane Williams of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, display the United States World War I Centennial Commission flag during McCoy's visit to the cemetery on July 15, 2018.
Rhode Island WWW1CC Pays Tribute its Fallen from World War One
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission
and
By Matthew McCoy
Rhode Island World War One Centennial Commission
Earlier this summer, Commissioner Matthew McCoy of the Rhode Island World War I Centennial Commission made a remarkable pilgrimage to France. Representing the state's government, Commissioner McCoy visited the graves of every one of Rhode Island's 210 World War I Fallen at American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries in France
The trip took a great deal of research and pre-planning. Commissioner McCoy and his organization spent countless hours identifying the fallen heroes, mapping out their burial sites, and preparing an itinerary. Key to that research effort was the team from the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), who run America's military cemeteries overseas.
Upon arrival in France, McCoy met with the superintendents of six ABMC cemeteries during the second week of July. The six cemeteries he visited included the Somme American Cemetery, Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, and the Suresnes American Cemetery.
Commissioner McCoy presented each cemetery superintendent with a certificate of special recognition from Governor Gina M. Raimondo, in recognition of their service in honoring the memory of Rhode Island's fallen service members. Challenge coins from Major General Chris Callahan, the Adjutant General of Rhode Island, and Kasim Yarn, the Director of the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs, were also presented to each superintendent.
As mentioned, there are 210 Rhode Island soldiers from World War I resting in American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in Europe. Most of these heroes rest near the battlefields where they fell. Many are missing and there names are listed on the tablets of the missing in the chapels at each of the cemeteries. Some rest under headstones marked as "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." None have been forgotten.
Each of the fallen Rhode Islander's gravestones were photographed, as part of the Rhode Island World War I Centennial Commission's efforts to document the service and sacrifice of Rhode Islanders during the Great War.
Copies of each photograph are being provided to the Rhode Island State Archives, upon the completion of the commission's work on November 11, 2018.
Copies are also available in an album on the commission's Facebook group page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2236064859951128/
The grave of Rhode Islander CPL James A. Greene, Company F, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, who died on August 9, 1918. Greene was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.