American Legion Paris Post 1

Centennial of the

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (USA)

1921-2021

EVENT & CEREMONIES LIST OCTOBER 2021 FRANCE

o Gala dinner tickets are available: https://paris-post-1-american-legion.s2.yapla.com/en/event-20710

The following events are being planned by the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS), in connection with various non-governmental, governmental, and non-profit organizations in France with the intent to highlight the many people tied to the Tomb and America’s sacred duty to never forget or forsake all those who have served and sacrificed on behalf of America in times of war or armed conflict.

● October 19 @ Paris, France
o Walking tour of key American monuments and sites in Paris, followed by a wreath ceremony at the American Cathedral in Paris.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.

o Dedication of a Never Forget Garden at the American Cathedral
o The Memorial Cloister is the first memorial in France to Americans fallen in World War I.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only

● October 21 @ St. Mihiel Cemetery, France
o Wreath ceremony and educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments

Commission focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier

candidate selection process in 1921.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.
o https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/st-mihiel-american-cemetery

● October 22 @ Aisne-Marne Cemetery, France
o Wreath ceremony and educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments

Commission focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier

candidate selection process in 1921.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.
o https://www.abmc.gov/aisne-marne

● October 22 @ Somme Cemetery, France
o Wreath ceremony and educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments

Commission focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier

candidate selection process in 1921.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.
o https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/somme-american-cemetery

● October 23 @ Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, France
o Wreath ceremony and educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments

Commission focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier

candidate selection process in 1921.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.
o https://www.abmc.gov/Meuse-Argonne

● October 23 @ Hôtel de Ville, Châlons-en-Champagne, France
o Commemoration on the 100th Anniversary of arrival of the four World War I Unknown

Soldier candidates in 1921 from American cemeteries in the region, and the honor guard of French Soldiers that assumed the death watch, when six American Soldier from the Army of Occupation joined them to conduct a joint honor guard through the night until the ceremonies the next day.

o Vigil starts at 5pm (Open to the public)

● October 24 @ Hôtel de Ville, Châlons-en-Champagne, France
o Commemoration and tribute on the 100th Anniversary of selection of World War I Unknown

Soldier by SGT Edward Younger in 1921, while honoring our allies and the citizens of France

who embraced him as their own.
o Ceremony starts at 11am with speeches, followed by a parade to a war memorial and

concluded with a wreath ceremony. (Open to the public)

● October 25 @ Normandy American Cemetery, France
o Wreath ceremony and educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments

Commission focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War II Unknown Soldier

candidate selection process in 1958.

o Open to Pilgrimage group only, RSVP required.
o https://www.abmc.gov/normandy

● October 25 @ Le Havre, France
o Commemoration ceremony on the 100th Anniversary of the departure of the World War I

Unknown Soldier from Le Havre, France to the United States in 1921 and the USS Olympia’s

mission to bring the Unknown Soldier home. o Ceremony starts at 3pm (Open to the public)

● October 26 @ Ravivage the Flame under the Arc de Triomphe Paris, France
o Members of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will render

honors and pay tribute to the French Unknown Soldier, standing with French and American

veterans.
o Open to public for viewing, RSVP required for ceremony participation.

Unknown Soldier Centennial Gala @ École Militaire

o Join the Society of the Honor Guard and our other guests from the USA who took their first pilgrimage to France for the Centennial of the Unknown Soldier.

o Gala starts at 7:00PM (after ravivage)
o Gala dinner tickets are available: https://paris-post-1-american-legion.s2.yapla.com/en/event-20710

PILGRIMAGE SUPPORTERS

Paris Post 1 of the American Legion, assisted by the European Region of the Association of the United States Army and the American Battlefield Monuments Commission (ABMC), are proud to provide local support for the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 2021 Centennial and Pilgrimage to France for the American Unknown Soldier of World War I.

We look forward to welcoming the members of Tomb Guard and the leaders of these historic associations for this centennial, some of our guests will be traveling to France for their first time:

❖ Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier President Gavin McIlvenna

❖ European Region of the Association of the Association of the United States Army President Anthony Williams

❖ American Gold Star Mothers, Inc President Jo Ann Maitland

❖ Daughters of the American Revolution President General Denise VanBuren

While most events are planned for in-person as well as virtual attendance, COVID and required security restrictions at each location will dictate how the event will continue. These will be updated with more information, timelines, and links as they become available. Please note, due to event restrictions some ceremonies require a reservation ahead of time.

If you have questions on any of the events listed, or if you are hosting a TUS100 event and would like it listed here, please contact publicaffairs@tombguard.org and/or contact@parispost1.fr.

“Soldiers never die until they are forgotten, Tomb Guards never forget.”