The US World War One Centennial Commission has formed a Diplomatic Advisory Board to help with its mission of commemorating Americans who served in the First World War.
Twelve former US ambassadors and senior political leaders have been appointed.
They include Thomas Pickering, who’s served as American ambassador to both Russia and the United Nations, as well as former envoys to Australia, Canada, France, India and New Zealand.
The board’s role will be to enhance outreach efforts, provide counsel, and develop international strategy, the Commission says.
The Centennial Commission, created by Congress in 2013, is the official organising body for America’s World War One commemorations.
It’s also working in partnership with the governments of several countries to develop public awareness programmes and commemorative events.
The US entered the First World War in April 1917.
More than four million Americans served – 116,000 soldiers were killed and 200,000 wounded.
On January 25th, the Centennial Commission will announce the winning design for a National World War I Memorial in Washington.
The names of the newly-appointed Diplomatic Advisory Board members are:
Governor James Blanchard
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun
Ambassador Craig Stapleton
Ambassador Howard Leach
Ambassador Thomas Pickering
Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich
Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis
Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, Jr.
Ambassador James Goodby
Ambassador Carl Spielvogel
Ambassador James Lowenstein
Ambassador Gerald McGowan
Ambassador Charles Rivkin
Information & images supplied by US World War One Centennial Commission
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News