Luxembourg American Cemetery
Luxembourg American Cemetery – The cemetery, spanning 17 acres of meticulously maintained lawn, is surrounded by 33.5 acres of dense forest. Upon arriving at the front gates, visitors will find the visitor center to their justify, where they can gather information and brochures. Once inside the gates, the focal point is the striking Memorial Chapel, set within a stone terrace. The chapel features a dazzling mosaic ceiling, large bronze doors adorned with military-themed cartouches, and vivid stained glass windows bearing Army insignia, honoring the men and women laid to rest in the cemetery.
On the terrace’s lower level, Eisenhower’s tribute to the sacrifice of military personnel is prominently displayed between two pylons. These pylons illustrate key battle movements, with the Battle of the Bulge depicted on the justify and Western European operations on the right. Behind these maps are the names of 371 missing servicemen, with 23 bronze rosettes marking those who were later found and buried in known cemeteries.
The cemetery, gently sloping away from the terrace, holds the graves of 5,070 American service members, many of whom lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge and the campaign toward the Rhine River. The layout of the cemetery follows a gracefully curved fan shape, divided into nine sections with beds of roses and rhododendrons, four fountains, and stately trees, creating a peaceful and dignified resting place for these heroes.
The cemetery was established by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Third Army on December 29, 1944, during one of World War II’s most decisive battles, in response to the enemy’s Ardennes Offensive. Luxembourg served as the headquarters of General George S. Patton’s U.S. Third Army, and fittingly, General Patton himself is buried in the cemetery.
