American Cemetery and Memorial

The Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial is recognized as a historical memorial by the Wallonia authorities. Located in a green bower, your visit will get you back to the second world war in Europe. 

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), established by the United States congress in 1923, is an autonomous branch of the US executive government. Its mission is to keep alive the memory of the American heroes who sacrificed their lives since April 6, 1917 (the date the United States officially took part in the first world war). This way, the Commision is responsible for studying, building and maintaining the cemeteries and memorials outside of the US borders. The Commision also supervises the constructions of US memorials built by public and private US citizens and associations as well as promoting the construction of such memorials.

This 36.5 ha cemetery is one of the fourteen permanent cemeteries outside the US borders remembering the Americans who fought and died during world war two. The site was liberated on September 7, 1944 by the 3rd armored division. Right after, a temporary cemetery was established on February 8, 1945. When the war was over, this site was chosen to become a permanent cemetery. The Belgian people, through its government, allowed the United States of America to use this land forever. A large number of soldiers buried here perished during the last large enemy counteroffensive in the Ardennes in December 1944 and January 1945.

The cemetery adopts a rectangular shape. The graves are grouped in squares and draw a greek cross. The groups are separated by two alleys which intersect in the center.

The memorial, built with an English limestone from Whitbed, is a massive and straightforward parallelepiped building. Its foundation lays on a pedestal made of blue granite from the Danube. You can reach it through the seven steps surrounding the building.

The five meters high American eagle is carved in bas-relief on the south facade. On this facade, you can also spot 3 women each symbolizing justice, freedom and truth as well as thirteen stars symbolizing the United States.

The south, east and west inside walls are decorated with large marble maps adopting different shades of color from white to cream and from grey to black. Most of the writings are done in bronze color; the topographic and military details are represented through a mosaic or in an enamelled bronze color. The map above the door illustrates the last enemy offensive known as “Battle of the Bulge” (also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive), followed by the progress of the allies in the Rhenish region towards the Rhine.