American Battle Monuments Commission is an independent federal agency that commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of United States armed forces. The commission designs, constructs, operates, and maintains U.S. military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries. It also maintains certain monuments in the United States. The commission controls the design and construction of military monuments and markers erected in foreign countries by U.S. citizens and by private and public organizations, and it encourages the sponsors to maintain these sites. Congress established the commission in 1923. Private citizens and members of the armed forces serve on the commission.