Memorial Day Ceremony at the Ardennes American Cemetery

26 May
ardennes wrat 2016
Saturday, May 26, 2018 - 10:00 to 11:00Timezone: Europe/Brussels
Ardennes American Cemetery
4121, Neupré, Belgium

Of the 5,328 graves at the Ardennes American Cemetery, 792 are unknowns, over 13 percent.  Moreover, nearly three-fifths of the known serviceman buried here were airmen, shot down over the skies of Europe during the war. This is a ceremony that speaks to all of the lives lost in the conflict. The men that are buried here came from almost every state in the Union as well as from the District of Columbia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the British West Indies. They died all over Europe, and even in Asia, They came from all branches of the United States Armed Forces:  Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, and Marines alike. In many ways, the Memorial Day ceremony at this cemetery represents America itself at the time of the wars.

Over the years, members of the Belgian royal family have occasionally attended the ceremony.  In 1960 and 1984, Prince Albert, who became King Albert II, attended Memorial Day ceremonies at the cemetery. More recently, Prince Phillip, who is now King Phillip, attended in 2004. Princess Astrid attended in 2010.  Since 2008, local school children have sung the American and Belgian national anthems at the ceremony.

On a historic note, the first Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery was held on Memorial Day 1945.  It was an ad hoc ceremony organized by the cemetery staff, but it quickly evolved into something much bigger. When the cemetery staff invited Jean Gony, the mayor of Neuville-en-Condroz (now part of Neupré), to their impromptu and informal event, the mayor enthusiastically embraced the ceremony and brought along a large contingent of local school children, veterans, and town officials to attend with him. The first official Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery occurred in May of 1946.  To this day, AOMDA and the Memorial Day ceremony at this cemetery enjoy the strong support of the community of Neupré.

Saturday, May 26, 2018 - 10:00 to 11:00

Nearby Museums and Monuments

40-45_memories_museum
40-45 Memories Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.455872, 5.672888

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
baugnez_44_Museum
Baugnez 44 Historical Centre

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.403115, 6.066226

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
101st Airborn Museum
101st Airborne Division Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 49.999181, 5.712207

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
bastogne_war_museum
Bastogne War Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.010695, 5.739769

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
Ardennes museum la roche
Battle of the Ardennes Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.183308, 5.575963

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
December 44 museum
December 44 Historical Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.409917, 5.846278

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
Poteau museum
Ardennen Poteau ’44 Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.312003, 6.013057

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
Salm museum
Museum de la Battaille de La Salm

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.328939, 5.924956

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
truschbaum_museum
Truschbaum Museum

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.457687, 6.218868

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
bastogne barracks mcaulliff
Bastogne Barracks

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.008318, 5.718339

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
M10 Tank Destroyer Arlon
M10 Tank Destoyer (Arlon)

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 49.68277, 5.813318

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery
Limont Monument
Monument to the five Americans killed in the liberation of Limont (Anthisnes)

Geolocation is 50.541809, 5.469915

Geolocation is 50.512706, 5.491269

Approximately km from Ardennes American Cemetery