The Adjutant General of West Virginia is hereby authorized to prepare and secure the publication in book form of a complete roster of all West Virginia soldiers, sailors and marines who entered the service of the United States in the war with Spain in eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and in the war with the central powers in Europe between nineteen hundred and seventeen, and nineteen hundred and nineteen. The preparation and publication of such roster shall be under the direction and supervision of the Adjutant General who shall employ such assistants and incur such expenses as may be necessary, and the compensation of such assistants and such expenses shall be paid out of funds appropriated for that purpose on the warrant of the Auditor upon presentation of vouchers signed by the Adjutant General.