Corozal American 

Cemetery and Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission

For more information on this site and other 

ABMC commemorative sites, please visit 

www.abmc.gov

American Battle Monuments Commission

2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22201 

USA

Corozal American Cemetery

Calle Rufina Alfaro, Edif. #6566

Corozal, Republic of Panama

tel 011 507 317-6034

email abmcpan1@cwpanama.net

gps N8 59.356 W79 34.351

Corozal American Cemetery and Memorial

The site was originally a farm of the Isthmian Canal Commission. 

It evolved into a cemetery in 1914, expanding over the years. 

Under terms of the Panama Canal Treaty, ratified in 1978, 

16.9 acres of the site was designated a permanent American 

cemetery. ABMC assumed control of the site on June 5, 1982.

American Battle Monuments Commission

This agency of the United States government operates 

and maintains 25 American cemeteries and 26 memorials, 

monuments and markers in 16 countries. The Commission 

works to fulfill the vision of its first chairman, General of 

the Armies John J. Pershing. Pershing, commander of the 

American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, promised 

that “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

key: Military Cemetery

President Theodore Roosevelt controls a steam shovel while 

inspecting Panama Canal construction, November 1906.

Photo: The National Archives

Connecting the Oceans

MA

ER

CI AN BATTLE MONUMENTS COM

M SI S OI N

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA
connecting the oceans

December 1502: Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage, 

saw the Chagres River.

1509: Spain founded settlements in Panama.

September 1513: Vasco Nuñez de Balboa reached the Pacific 

Ocean and proved the isthmus existed.

November 25, 1821: Panama declared independence from 

Spain, joining Colombia.

January 27, 1855: Panama Railroad, the first transcontinental 

railroad, was completed.

November 3, 1903: With U.S. encouragement, Panama seceded 

from Colombia. 

November 18: The U.S. and Panama signed the Hay—BunauVarilla Treaty, granting the U.S. rights to build and defend a 

canal across the isthmus. 

May 4, 1904: The Isthmian Canal Commission began 

construction of the Panama Canal. 

November 6-22, 1906: President Theodore Roosevelt inspected 

Panama Canal construction on the first official visit abroad by 

a president while in office.

February 5, 1914: The Isthmian Canal Commission designated 

two acres of land as a permanent cemetery. The first interment 

was conducted on February 13.

August 15: The Panama Canal officially opened, connecting 

the oceans.

September 7, 1977: President Jimmy Carter and General Omar 

Torrijos signed the two Torrijos-Carter Treaties, transferring the 

Canal to Panama by the end of the 20th Century.

January 19, 1979: President Carter’s Executive Order 

12115 assigned the American Battle Monuments Commission 

to administer the 16.9-acre Corozal American Cemetery.

June 5, 1982: ABMC assumed control of the cemetery.

June 11, 1999: The U.S. and Panama signed the agreement formalizing 

ABMC’s operation of the cemetery after the Panama Canal and U.S. 

bases were transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999.

Headstone

Cpl. John E. Westberg, of the 

1st Illinois Cavalry, is one of 

31 veterans of the SpanishAmerican War interred at the 

Corozal American Cemetery.

Memorial

The inscription on the 

memorial pays tribute 

to those interred here 

who served in the 

U.S. armed forces or 

contributed to the construction, operation and 

maintenance of the Panama Canal.

Graves Area

The graves are situated on 

the rolling terrain of the 

cemetery in 11 plots 

ranging alphabetically 

from A through K.

Useful 

Information

After passing through the entrance gate, visitors follow a path with restrooms 

on the right and then the visitor building on the left. Parking is available at the 

“Y” at the base (east) of section E.

Layout

Overview

This aerial photo of the 

southern portion of the 

cemetery highlights the 

Visitor Center, Memorial 

Hill, Calle Rufina 

Alfaro which borders the eastern cemetery 

boundary, and various plot areas.

Visitor Building

Here you can meet our staff, 

get your questions answered, 

and sign the guest register.

Entrance

The entrance, on the west 

side of Calle Rufina Alfaro, 

welcomes visitors to the 

cemetery and memorial.

Plantings

Lush tropical flowers and 

other plantings brighten the 

scene. Stately palm trees 

enhance the dignity of the site.

Headstone Location

plot: 

row: 

grave: 

Photo: The National Archives

Workers pause during construction of a “cut” 

through terrain for the Panama Canal, 1913.

dimensions: 16.9 acres

persons interred: 5,424

nationalities represented: 71

dedicated: February 5, 1914

u.s. actions involved: Construction of Panama Canal, 

campaigns from the Mexican-American War through 

the current International War on Terrorism.