Legionnaires in Europe: Tomb centennial events are near you

In late October, a flurry of events will take place in France as part of the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. In keeping with The American Legion’s long history of involvement with the Tomb, and France’s with the selection of the Unknown Soldier, Paris Post 1 will have an active presence at these events; individuals interested in attending should RSVP or inquire, where applicable.

The list of events, subject to change, is below. Times are local. For updates, visit tombguard.org on the web.

Oct. 19, Paris. A Never Forget Garden at the American Cathedral will be dedicated at 5 p.m.; the Memorial Cloister is the first memorial in France to Americans fallen in World War I. See tombguard.org for more information. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr.

Oct. 21, St. Mihiel Cemetery, France. Educational walking tour by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), discussion of the Unknown Soldier selection process in 1921, and wreath-laying ceremony at 2:20 p.m. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr. abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/st-mihiel-american-cemetery

Oct. 22, Aisne-Marne Cemetery, France. Wreath ceremony at 9 a.m. and educational walking tour by the ABMC, focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier candidate selection process in 1921. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr. abmc.gov/aisne-marne

Oct. 22, Somme Cemetery, France. Wreath ceremony at 2:30 p.m., and educational walking tour by the ABMC focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier candidate selection process in 1921. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr. abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/somme-american-cemetery

Oct. 23, Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, France. Wreath ceremony at 9 a.m., and educational walking tour by the ABMC focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War I Unknown Soldier candidate selection process in 1921. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr. abmc.gov/Meuse-Argonne

23, Hôtel de Ville, Châlons-en-Champagne, France. Commemoration on the 100th anniversary of the 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 soldiers from the Army of Occupation joined them to conduct a joint honor guard through the night until the ceremonies the next day. Vigil begins at 5 p.m., open to the public. For more information, please contact publicaffairs@tombguard.org or a.invernici@chalonsenchampagne.fr.

Oct. 24, Hôtel de Ville, Châlons-en-Champagne, France. Commemoration and tribute on the 100th anniversary of the selection of the World War I Unknown Soldier by Sgt. Edward Younger, while honoring our allies and the citizens of France who embraced him as their own. Ceremony starts at 11 a.m. with speeches, followed by a parade to a war memorial, and concluding with a wreath ceremony. Open to the public. For more information, please contact publicaffairs@tombguard.org or a.invernici@chalonsenchampagne.fr.

Oct. 25, Quai Roger Meunier, Le Havre, France. Ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the departure of the World War I Unknown Soldier from Le Havre to the United States in 1921 and USS Olympia’s mission to bring him home. The city will dedicate a special plaque on the site where the Unknown Soldier left French soil. Ceremony begins at 3 p.m., open to the public. For more information, please contact publicaffairs@tombguard.org or sebastien.vau-rihal@lehavre.fr.

Oct. 25, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Wreath ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by educational walking tour by the ABMC, focusing on the associated battlefield and the World War II Unknown Soldier candidate selection process in 1958. RSVP required to contact@parispost1.fr. abmc.gov/normandy

Oct. 26, Arc de Triomphe, Paris. 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, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP required for ceremony participation to contact@parispost1.fr; open to public for viewing.

Oct. 26, Paris. Unknown Soldier Centennial Gala at École Militaire. Join the Society of the Honor Guard and our other guests from the United States who took their first pilgrimage to France for the centennial of the Unknown Soldier. Ceremony will start at 7 p.m. Dinner tickets are available here.