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Suresnes American Cemetery

 and Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission
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Memory
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Suresnes

American

Cemetery

 And

Memorial

LOCATION

The Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial is situated on the wooded east slope of 

Mont Valerien, 4 miles west of the center of Paris, in the city of Suresnes. The cemetery 

can be reached by taxi or automobile via the Bois de Bougne and the Suresnes Bridge 

over the Seine River. On leaving the bridge, visitors should bear right and follow the 

traffic signs indicating Mont Valerien. From the Gare St. Lazare train station in Paris, 

suburban electric trains are available every 15 minutes to the Suresnes station. On arrival 

at the Suresnes station, visitors should take the Hospital Foch exit turning right, go up the 

slope to Boulevard Washington, turn right on the boulevard and proceed approximately 

200 yards to the cemetery entrance.

The Memorial Chapel
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HOURS

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 

and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the 

public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors’ Building to answer questions and escort 

relatives to grave and memorial sites.

THE SITE

The cemetery site covers 7 1⁄2 acres. Perpetual use of this land free of charge or taxation 

was granted to the United States by the French Government.

The hill on which the cemetery is located is rich in history. Now called Mont 

Valerien, it was known as Mont Calvaire in earlier times and was the site of a hermitage, 

which was itself the goal of many religious pilgrimages. The hermits maintained gardens 

and vineyards, as well as a guesthouse. Thomas Jefferson often visited the guesthouse 

while he was Ambassador to France, 1784-1789.

In 1811, Emperor Napoleon I confiscated Mont Valerien with the intention of 

building a home for the orphans of the Legion of Honor. During a subsequent visit to the 

site, he changed his mind and decided to build a fort. Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 

1815 stopped the work and Mont Valerien was built and is presently in use by the French 

Signal Corps.

During World War II, German troops occupied the fort where they executed over 

4,500 polical prisoners and members of the Resistance Movement. The French people 

have erected an impressive monument along the south wall of the fort to commemorate 

this sacrifice. Thus, the hill in Suresnes has become a symbol to the French of 

democracy’s struggle in the cause of freedom. Mont Valerien is a site of pilgrimage for 

both the French and the American peoples.

Layout of Cemetery Features
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HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY

The American military cemetery at 

Suresnes was established in 1917 by the 

Graves Registration Service of the Army 

Quartermaster Corps. A majority of the 

World War I Dead buried there died of 

wounds or sickness in hospitals located in 

Paris or at other places in the Services of 

Supply. Many were victims of the 

influenza epidemic of

1918-1919.

The cemetery was dedicated by 

President Woodrow Wilson during 

Memorial Day ceremonies of 1919.

Administration of the cemetery 

passed to the American Battle Monuments 

Commission in 1934, the duties and 

functions of which are described in the 

final pages of this booklet. The 

Commission was responsible for 

construction of the chapel and landscaping 

of the grounds, which were completed in 1932. The Graves Area

At the end of World War II, it was decided that this particular cemetery should 

serve to commemorate the Dead of both World Wars, and an additional grave plot was 

created as an eternal resting place for the unidentified remains of 24 World War II 

Unknowns. Commemorative loggias were also added to the original chapel.

The World War II section was dedicated in 1952 with an impressive ceremony 

presided ove r by General George C. Marshall, then Chairman of the Commission, and 

attended by distinguished representatives of the American and French governments. 

ARCHITECTS

The original chapel was designed by architect Charles A. Platt of New York. His sons, 

William and Geoffrey Platt, designed the loggias and memorial rooms which comprise 

the loggias added to the chapel after World War II.

GENERAL LAYOUT

The suresnes American Cemetery is entered from Boulevard Washington at the East End 

of the cemetery.
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 From the gilded, wrought iron entrance gates, an avenue of clipped lindens leads 

upward to the chapel framing its classical facade. Groups of rhododendrons flank the 

chapel while red polyantha roses form a border of color along its base.

 The impeccable headstones and lawns of the graves area extend in gentle arcs on both 

sides of the central avenue.

 The initial horticultural development has now matured and contributes greatly to the 

tranquil beauty of the grounds. Planted among the grave plots are beech, weeping 

willow, mountain ash, horse chestnut and paulownia. The latter is an exceptional sight in 

the spring, when it is covered with mauve flowers. The hillside, which rises steeply 

behind the graves area and chapel, is planted with pines, yews, acacia, and hornbeam to 

form a discreet background.

THE CHAPEL 

The exterior walls of the chapel are of Val d’Arion, a creamy French limestone. The four 

columns supporting the peristyle are interesting monoliths. Above these columns is 

inscribed in large letters:

PEACEFUL IS THEIR SLEEP IN GLORY

To the left of the bronze entrance doors, there is inscribed the text:

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AS A SACRED RENDEZVOUS OF A GRATEFUL PEOPLE

WITH ITS IMMORTAL DEAD

The same text in French appears to the right of the entrance.

The interior walls and columns of the chapel are of Rocheret, a compact limestone 

quarried in central France. The ceiling is paneled in native oak. The principal decorative 

feature inside the chapel is the mosaic mural behind the alter, created by Barry Faulkner, 

also of New York, New York, which depicts the Angel of Victory bearing a palm branch 

to the graves of the Fallen. Four large bronze plaques, each one cast as a single until, 

bear the names of 974 men who were buried or lost at sea during World War I. The altar 

is of Italian Levanto marble and is inscribed: 

I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE

AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH.
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World War I Loggia

WORLD WAR I LOGGIA

A portal in the left wall of the chapel leads to the World War I loggia, a covered passage 

with one side open to give a view of the graves area below and of Paris in the distance. 

The opposite or rear side is paneled in limestone. One panel of this wall bears the 

inscription:

TO THE ETERNAL MEMORY OF THOSE AMERICANS

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

DURING WORLD WAR I

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INTO THY HANDS O LORD

Midway along the loggia, a relief portrays a group of soldiers carrying an empty bier. 

Beneath the frieze is the inscription:

SOME THERE BE WHICH HAVE NO SEPULCHRE. THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR 

EVERMORE.

An engraved list of other World War I military cemeteries in Europe completes the 

texts appearing on the wall of this loggia.
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WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL ROOM

At the end of the loggia, one enters the World War I memorial room and faces a pure 

white statue entitled “Remembrance.” This graceful figure was created in Carrara marble 

by the American sculptor John Gregory, of New York, New York. The walls and floors 

of the memorial room are of Italian marbles of varying shades and give a rich subdued 

effect to highlight the statue.

On one wall panel is inscribed the text:

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF HER

SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AND MARINES

WHO FAR FROM THEIR HOMES

LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES THAT THE WORLD MIGHT

LIVE IN FREEDOM AND INHERIT PEACE

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FROM THESE HONORED DEAD

MAY WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION

TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY

GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE.

World War II Loggia
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WORLD WAR II LOGGIA

A portal in the right wall of the chapel leads to the World War II loggia, which is very 

similar in appearance to the loggia previously described, except for the inscriptions on the 

wall. The dedicatory panel reads:

TO THE ETERNAL MEMORY OF THOSE AMERICANS

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

DURING WORLD WAR II

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INTO THY HANDS O LORD

Beneath the frieze depicting a group of soldiers carrying the shrouded remains of 

an Unknown comrade, there is inscribed:

GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST

WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES

Two other wall panels bear the following text:

THE EAST COAST MEMORIAL

AT NEW YORK HARBOR

BEARS THE NAMES OF 4596 OF

OUR HEROIC DEAD WHO REST

BENEATH AMERICAN COASTAL WATERS

OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

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THE WEST COAST MEMORIAL

AT SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

BEARS THE NAMES OF 412 OF OUR

HEROIC DEAD WHO REST BENEATH

THE AMERICAN COASTAL WATERS

OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

The loggia inscriptions are completed with a tabulation of other overseas World 

War II military cemeteries. In addition to Puerto Rico, the list includes Hawaii and 

Alaska as these two territories had not attained statehood at the time.
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WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ROOM

The walls and floors in this room are finished in Italian marble corresponding to that in 

the World War I Memorial room. A different statue is presented here, however, entitled 

“Memory.” It is the work of another American sculptor, Lewis Iselin, also of New York, 

New York.

The wall panel bears the text:

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY

OF HER SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES, AND AIRMEN

WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES

IN ALL QUARTERS OF THE EARTH

THAT OTHER PEOPLES MIGHT BE

FREED FROM OPPRESSION

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LET US HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE

THAT THESE HONORED DEAD

SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.

Cemetery Office
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THE GRAVES AREA

The graves area consists of four burial plots; 

three of World War I, with a total of 1,541 

graves, and one of World War II, containing 

the graves of 24 unknown soldiers, sailors or 

airmen. Each grave is marked with a 

headstone of white Italian marble, the Star of 

David for those of Jewish faith, a Latin cross 

for all others.

The precise alignment of white marble 

headstones on well-kept lawns assures the 

visitor that no feature of the cemetery receives 

greater care than does the graves area.

The deceased are interred side by side 

without distinction as to rank, race or creed, so 

that all repose equally in everlasting dignity.

To view the graves area is poignant, and 

the presence of a pair of brothers, a pair of 

sisters, and seven nurses is particularly 

touching.

 World War II Graves Plot

Graves Area