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Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and 

Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission
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LOCATION

The Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and 

Memorial lies at the north edge of the town 

of Nettuno, Italy, which is immediately 

east of Anzio, 38 miles south of Rome.

There is regular train service between 

Rome and Nettuno. Travel one way by rail 

takes a little over one hour. The cemetery 

is located one mile north of the Nettuno 

railroad station, from which taxi service is 

available.

To travel to the cemetery from Rome by automobile, the following two routes are 

recommended:

(1) At Piazza di San Giovanni, bear left and pass through the old Roman wall to 

the Via Appia Nuova/route No. 7. About 8 miles from the Piazza di San Giovanni, after 

passing Ciampino airport, turn right onto Via Nettunense, route No. 207. Follow the 

Sicily-Rome American Cemetery sign and proceed past Aprilia to Anzio, Nettuno and the 

cemetery.

(2) At Piazza de San Giovanni, bear right onto the Via dell’ Amba Aradam to Via 

delle Terme de Caracalla and pass through the old Roman wall. Proceed along Via 

Cristoforo Colombo to the Via Pontina (Highway 148). Drive south approximately 39 

miles along Highway 148 and exit at Campoverde/Nettuno. Proceed to Nettuno. The 

cemetery is located 5 1⁄2 miles down this road.

Adequate hotel accommodations may be found in Anzio, Nettuno and Rome.

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.

HISTORY

On 10 July 1943, just two months after the victorious North African campaign, Allied 

forces landed in strength on the southern and eastern shores of the island of Sicily. 

Despite vigorous resistance by the enemy, infantry and airborne troops of the U.S. 

Seventh Army thrust inland under cover of gunfire from the Western Naval Task Force. 
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Five days later, the Allied beachheads were joined and a continuous line established. 

While the British Eighth Army on the right was advancing northeast toward Mount Etna 

against stiff resistance, the U.S. Seventh Army was driving rapidly to the northwest. 

Advancing 100 miles in four days, the U.S. Seventh Army occupied the port city of 

Palermo and then swung toward Messina in the northeast.

With air cover and support from the U.S. Twelfth Air Force, the U.S. Seventh and 

British Eight Armies drove across the difficult mountainous terrain of Sicily to seize 

Messina on 17 August. In just 39 days, the entire island was overrun and the Sicilian 

campaign concluded. This resounding victory by the Allies caused the Italian 

government to break with the Axis and sue for peace.

In order to maintain contact with the withdrawing enemy forces, troops of the 

British Eight Army crossed the Straits of Messina to the mainland. Six days later, at 

0330 hours on 9 September, the major amphibious assault was launched on the Italian 

mainland over the beaches of Salerno by American and British troops of the U.S. Fifth 

Army. That same day, a British fleet landed troops at Taranto to seize the major port 

there and divert some enemy reserves from the main landing. Four days later, elements 

of two Panzer Corps mounted a powerful counterattack against Allied troops at Salerno 

threatening existence of the entire beachhead. After three days of bitter fighting, 

stubborn resistance by the Allied ground forces combined with artillery, naval gunfire 

and air support halted the enemy assault. Realizing that it could not dislodge the U.S. 

Fifth Army and fearful of not being in good defensive positions when the British Eighth 

Army arrived in the area from Messina and Taranto, the enemy withdrew to the north as 
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the two Allied armies joined forces at Vallo. With air support from the U.S. Twelfth Air 

Force, the U.S. Fifth Army seized Naples on 1 October as the British Eighth Army on its 

right captured the airfields near Foggia. A major Allied objective of the landings on the 

Italian mainland was thus accomplished, obtainment of air bases from which the U.S. 

Fifteenth Air Force could conduct strategic bombardment of Austria, the Balkans and 

Germany. Together with the U.S. Eighth Air Force operating from England, it carried 

out numerous massive aerial attacks to destroy critical industrial target and defeat the 

German Air Force.

Continuing its advance northward, the U.S. Fifth Army crossed the Volturno River 

in mid-October and attacked toward the Liri River Valley, which was considered the 

“gateway to Rome.” Increasing resistance by the enemy, adverse weather conditions and 

mountainous terrain combined to slow the U.S. Fifth Army advance. In November and 

December, the U.S. Fifth Army fought its way across the rugged terrain in bitterly cold 

weather as on its right the British Eighth Army crossed the Sangro River. The two Allied 

armies continued the breaching of the enemy’s Winter Line south of Cassino, reaching 

the Garigliano and the Rapido Rivers in January 1944, where the advance ground to a 

halt at the strongly fortified Gustav Line.

To break the stalemate, an amphibious operation was planned at Anzio, 40 miles 

south of Rome to outflank the Gustav Line and cut off the enemy from the rear. An U.S. 

Fifth Army attack continued to meet stubborn resistance in the heavily fortified Cassino 
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area and failed to breach the Gustav Line. However, it was successful in drawing enemy 

reserves away from the landing beaches.

The amphibious landing on 22 January 1944 by American and British troops of the 

VI Corps at Anzio came as a surprise to the enemy. It, nevertheless, reacted forcefully 

and within a few days had brought reinforcements from northern Italy, France, Germany 

and Yugoslavia. Three major counterattacks were hurled against the VI Corps beachhead 

only to be stopped by a magnificent ground defense supported by tanks, artillery, 

airplanes and naval gunfire.

The final assault on the well-entrenched enemy at the Gustav Line began on 11 

May 1944. An aggressive attack by French troops of the U.S. Fifth Army successfully 

penetrated the Gustav Line in its area capturing Monte Majo causing the enemy to 

commit its last reserves there. Soon the Allies were penetrating all along the line. Two 

weeks later the VI Corps broke out of the beachhead, and on 4 June 1944, the Allied 

entered Rome. For the first time since the landings at Salerno in September 1943, the 

enemy was in full retreat.

SITE

The site, 77 acres in extent, lay in the zone of advance of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division. 

A temporary wartime cemetery was established there on 24 January 1944, two days after 

the U.S. VI Corps landing on the beaches of Anzio.

After World War II, when the temporary cemeteries were disestablished by the 

U.S. Army, the remains of American military Dead whose next-of-kin requested 
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permanent interment overseas were moved to one of the fourteen permanent sites on 

foreign soil, usually the one which was closest to the temporary cemetery. There they 

were reinterred by the American Graves registration Service in the distinctive grave 

patterns proposed by the cemetery’s architect and approved by the Commission. Design 

and construction of all structures and facilities at the permanent sites as well as the 

sculpture, landscaping and other improvements were the responsibility of the 

Commission.

Many of the Dead interred or commemorated here gave their lives in the liberation 

of Sicily (10 July to 17 August 1943); in the landings in the Salerno area (9 September 

1943) and in the subsequent heavy fighting northward; in the landings at and occupation 

of the Anzio beachhead (22 January 1944 to May 1944); and in the air and naval 

operations in these regions.

The permanent cemetery and memorial were completed in 1956.

ARCHITECTS

Architects for the cemetery and memorial were Gugler, Kimball and Husted of New York 

City; the landscape architect was Ralph Griswold of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

GENERAL LAYOUT

The main entrance to the cemetery is on the west side of Via della Rimembranza, 200 

yards from the north edge of the town of Nettuno. Entry is through an ornate bronze gate 

surmounted by the United States seal. The cemetery is generally trapezoidal in shape 
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with the small end of the trapezoid near the entrance. Just inside the entrance on the right 

is the Visitors’ Building and a limited number of parking spaces. Beyond the gate 

directly to the front is a large elliptical reflecting pool (82 yards by 66 yards) with a stone 

cenotaph of bronze-colored travertine in the shape of a sarcophagus on a small island in 

its center. Several Italian cypress trees flank the cenotaph on either side. Extending from 

the reflecting pool through the graves area to the large memorial on the west is a wide 

grassy mall lined with evergreen holly oak trees and a hedge of pittosporum tobira. The 

memorial consists of a chapel and museum connected by a peristyle and two gardens. 

American flags fly daily from flagpoles located on each side of the memorial.

The service road which encircles the graves area proceeds from the entrance gate 

the Visitors’ Building and parking area on the right at which point it curves to the left 

parallel to the graves area. The service area is located on the right just past the curve. A 

little further on the right are the pumphouse and power stations. Here water from the 

Fosso dei Tinozzi is directed into open reservoirs from which it is pumped into the highpressure sprinkler system. Potable water is drawn directly from city mains which pass 

the cemetery on the west. Along the outside of the service road to the rear of the 

memorial stand cedars of Lebanon, Monterey cypress and oleanders. At the top of the 

hill, the road turns left passing additional parking spaces and the rear entrance to the 

memorial. From the rear of the memorial, the road passes to left around the west end of 

the graves area and returns to the entrance gate. Among the plantings beyond the road to 

the south of the graves area, Italian cypress, eucalyptus and oleanders predominate.
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THE MEMORIAL

The memorial consists of a chapel, museum and connecting peristyle constructed largely 

of Roman travertine quarried near Tivoli, a few miles east of Rome.

Flanking the entrance to the peristyle are two flagstaffs 80 feet high. The peristyle 

contains massive columns of travertine and of Rosso Levanto marble from the vicinity of 

Rapallo, near Genoa. Prominently positioned in the peristyle on a pedestal of bronzecolored travertine is the “Brothers-in-Arms” sculpture by Paul Manship of New York, 

symbolizing an American soldier and sailor standing side by side with an arm around 

each other’s shoulder. The sculpture of bronze was cast at the Battaglia Foundry in 

Milan. A single tall Roman pine tree shades it.

On the east facade of the chapel is a sculptured panel in relief of white Carrara 

marble symbolizing “Remembrance.” It portrays an angel bestowing a laurel wreath 

upon the graves of those who gave their lives for their Country.

On the east facade of the museum is a panel symbolizing “Resurrection.” It 

portrays a dead soldier being borne to his reward by a guardian angel. Both panels were 

designed by Paul Manship and carved by Pietro Bibolotti of Pietrasanta.

South of the memorial, adjacent to the chapel, is an informal garden lined on each 

side with connecting semi-circular planters containing beds of annual flowers. Panicled 

goldenrain trees and pink crepe myrtle border the planters. At the far end of the garden is 

a bronze statue of the legendary Thracian poet and musician Orpheus circumscribed by 

an armillary sphere with a sun dial.

North of the memorial, adjacent to the museum, is a more formal garden planted in 

parterre arrangements with beds of polyantha roses, geraniums, white oleanders, purple 

bougainvillea and other flowers.

At the far end of the garden is a Baveno granite fountain consisting of a large semicircular bowl on a wide pedestal. It was carved from a single piece of granite quarried 

near the north end of Lake Maggiore. Cascades of water flow from the bowl into a low 

basin.

CHAPEL

On each side of the bronze door to the chapel (cast by the Marinelli Foundries of 

Florence) is the dedicatory inscription in English and Italian:

1941-1945

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IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND

IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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INTERIOR

The chapel contains no windows. When light in addition to the artificial lighting is 

needed, two huge panels on the west wall, set in bronze and steel frames, can be swung 

open.

The floor of the chapel is of Rosso Levanto marble; the pews are of walnut. The 

interior chapel walls of white Carrara marble are engraved with the name, rank, 

organization and State of entry into military service of 3,095 Missing in the region:

United States Army and Army Air Force 2,032

United States Navy 1,063

During World War II, the Air Force was a part of the U.S. Army. These servicemen and 

women, who died in the service of their Country, were Missing in Action or were lost or 

buried at sea. They represent every State in the Union and the District of Columbia.

With confirmed information to the contrary, a War Department Administrative 

Review Board established the official date of death of those commemorated on the 

Tablets of the Missing as one year and a day from the date on which the individual was 

placed in Missing in action status.

Over the Apse is engraved:

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
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WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND

WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES.

An Italian translation is engraved over the door.

On the altar of golden Broccatello Siena marble is a triptych of Serravezzo white 

marble from the Carrara region designed by Paul Manship. Carved in relief on the side 

panels of the triptych are angels holding palm branches. The left panel bears this 

quotation from the Eighth Psalm (3-5) with reference to the sculptured ceiling dome:

WHEN I CONSIDER THY HEAVENS,

THE WORK OF THY FINGERS,

THE MOON AND THE STARS,

WHICH THOU HAST ORDAINED:

WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM?

AND THE SON OF MAN, THAT THOU VISITEST HIM?

FOR THOU HAST MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER

THAN THE ANGELS, AND HAS CROWNED HIM

WITH GLORY AND HONOR

The right panel bears this text from T. T. Higham’s translation of “The Greek Dead 

at Thermopylae” by Simonides:
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NOBLY THEY ENDED, HIGH THEIR DESTINATION

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BENEATH AN ALTAR LAID, NO MORE A TOMB,

WHERE NONE WITH PITY COMES OR LAMENTATIONS

BUT PRAISE AND MEMORY, A SPLENDOR OF OBLATION

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WHO LEFT BEHIND A GEM-LIKE HERITAGE OF COURAGE AND RENOWN,

A NAME THAT SHALL GO DOWN FROM AGE TO AGE

Carved in relief on the center panel, flying against a background of clouds is the 

Archangel Michael sheathing his sword while four archangels below him proclaim the 

Victory. Beneath them is the universal prayer: 

PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL AMONG MEN

On the reverse of the center panel is carved the Angel of Peace. A cross in metal 

filigree stands before the triptych on the altar.

Engraved on the left or east end of the altar is a cross; engraved on the right end are 

the Tablets of Moses.
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THE CEILING

The ceiling dome sculpture, 22 feet in diameter, was designed by Gugler, Kimball and 

Husted and executed by Paul Manship and by Bruno Bearzi of Florence. The medieval 

signs of the Zodiac in high-relief represent the constellations. The planets Mars, Jupiter 

and Saturn occupy the same relative positions that they occupied at 0200 hours on 22 

January 1944, the historic moment when the first American and British troops landed on 

the beaches of Anzio. The more important stars in each constellation are shown as points 

of light on the celestial dome. Inscribed around the base of the dome is this text:

O YE STARS OF HEAVEN BLESS YE THE LORD

PRAISE HIM AND MAGNIFY HIM FOREVER

A brief explanation of the dome is cast into the bronze cover of the large switch 

box just inside the door of the chapel.

THE MUSEUM ROOM

The museum room is entered through bronze gates cast by the Fonderia Marinelli, which 

also cast the ornamental light fixtures in the memorial.
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An octagonal table of bronze colored travertine, into which is set a circular relief 

map of Italy at 1:500,000 scale, occupies the center of the room. The map is of bronze 

inset with marble mosaic the in various shades of blue depicting the sea areas. It was 

fabricated by Bruno Bearzi from information supplied by the American Battle 

Monuments Commission and shows in general outline the American military operations 

in Sicily and Italy during the period 1943-45.

The maps on the east and west walls were designed by Carlo Ciampaglia of Middle 

Valley, New Jersey and executed in true fresco by Leonetto Tintori of Florence. This 

procedure involves the mixing of pigments with the plaster as it is applied to the wall. 

This disappearing art was used widely in the Middle Ages in the production of many 

murals which have lasted through the ensuing centuries.

On the west wall are three maps “The Capture of Sicily,” “The Naples-Foggia 

Campaign.” To aid in understanding them, the maps bear these inscriptions:

THE CAPTURE OF SICILY

ON 10 JULY 1943, UNDER COVER OF AIR AND NAVAL BOMBARDMENT, 

AMERICAN AND BRITISH FORCES LANDED ON THE SOUTH AND EAST 

SHORES OF SICILY.
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1. AIDED BY GUNFIRE OF THE WESTERN NAVAL TASK FORCE AND 

COVERED BY AIRCRAFT OF THE TWELFTH AIR FORCE, THE U.S. SEVENTH 

ARMY ADVANCED RAPIDLY INLAND, REACHING THE CENTER OF THE 

ISLAND IN TEN DAYS. ON 22 JULY U.S. FORCES OCCUPIED PALERMO AND 

ITS PORT.

2. FARTHER TO THE EAST, THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY, ATTACKING 

NORTHWARD TOWARD MOUNT ETNA, ENCOUNTERED STIFF RESISTANCE 

WHICH SLOWED ITS PROGRESS. THE U.S. SEVENTH ARMY, TO RELIEVE 

THE PRESSURE, PROMPTLY FACED TO THE NORTHEAST AND ADVANCED 

TOWARD MESSINA.

3. ATTACKING NORTH AND SOUTH OF MOUNT ETNA, THE SEVENTH 

AND EIGHTH ARMIES DROVE FORWARD OVER THE DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN 

TERRAIN. IN ORDER TO OUTFLANK THE ENEMY DEFENSES THE ALLIES 
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MADE SEVERAL AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS ALONG THE NORTHERN AND 

EASTERN COASTS.

 4. WITH THE OCCUPATION OF MESSINA ON 17 AUGUST THE 

CAMPAIGN ENDED. IN 39 DAYS THE ALLIES HAD EXPELLED THE ENEMY 

FROM THE ISLAND, PRECIPITATING A POLITICAL DISASTER FOR THE AXIS. 

ON 8 SEPTEMBER THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT, RENOUNCING FASCIST 

GUIDANCE, ASKED FOR PEACE TERMS.

THE STRATEGIC AIR ASSAULTS

MAJOR OBJECTIVES IN ITALY INCLUDED THE AIR BASES IN THE NAPLESFOGGIA AREA.

1. FROM BASES IN THE NAPLES-FOGGIA AREA THE U.S. FIFTEENTH 

AIR FORCE LAUNCHED ITS BOMBARDMENT OF AUSTRIA, THE BALKANS, 

AND GERMANY. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DESERT AIR FORCE AND 

THE ALLIED AIR FLEETS ALREADY OPERATING FROM ENGLAND, OUR 

BOMBERS AND FIGHTERS ATTACKED INCESSANTLY. THEIR OBJECTIVES 

WERE THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMAN AIR FORCE AND THE PROGRESSIVE 

DISLOCATION AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY’S MILITARY AND 

ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.
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2. THE FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE ATTACKED AIRCRAFT FACTORIES IN 

REGENSBURG AND BUDAPEST, OIL REFINERIES AT PLOESTI AND BRASOV, 

ENEMY AIRFIELDS AND LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN NORTHERN ITALY, 

AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTERING IN MUNICH, VIENNA AND 

BUDAPEST. ITS AIRCRAFT REACHED AS FAR AS BERLIN ITSELF. WHILE 

THE GROUND FORCES ADVANCED NORTHWARD, THE BOMBER OFFENSIVE 

PURSUED WITH EVER INCREASING INTENSITY THE DESTRUCTION OF 

STRATEGIC MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL TARGETS.

THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN

FOLLOWING THEIR VICTORY IN SICILY, THE ALLIES NEXT UNDERTOOK TO 

ENTER THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE.

1. THE ASSAULT ON THE SALERNO BEACHES WAS LAUNCHED ON 9 

SEPTEMBER 1943. AT 0330 HOURS ALLIED TROOPS OF THE U.S. FIFTH ARMY 

LANDED FROM SHIPS OF THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NAVAL ATTACK 

FORCES. OVERCOMING THE DEFENSES THE ALLIES FOUGHT THEIR WAY 

INLAND. AT VALLO THEY JOINED WITH THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY 

WHICH HAD CROSSED FROM SICILY ON 3 SEPTEMBER.

2. WITH THE COOPERATION OF FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS OF THE 

TWELFTH AIR FORCE, THE FIFTH ARMY MADE STEADY PROGRESS WHILE 

THE BRITISH EIGHTH ARMY ADVANCED ON ITS RIGHT. BY 1 OCTOBER 

NAPLES AND THE FOGGIA AIRFIELDS HAS BEEN SEIZED. FIVE DAYS LATER 

THE FIFTH ARMY REACHED THE VOLTURNO RIVER, WHICH IT CROSSED IN 

MID-OCTOBER AND ADVANCED TOWARD THE LIRI RIVER VALLEY IN 

NOVEMBER, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, INCREASED RESISTANCE AND BAD 

WEATHER SLOWED THE ALLIED DRIVE. A HALT WAS CALLED ON 15 

NOVEMBER TO CONSOLIDATE POSITIONS.

3. RESUMING ITS ATTACKS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, THE FIFTH 

ARMY SLOWLY BATTERED ITS WAY THROUGH THE WINTER LINE. 

STRUGGLING FORWARD AGAINST DETERMINED OPPOSITION, ACROSS 

RUGGED TERRAIN IN BITTERLY COLD WEATHER, OUR TROOPS 

EVENTUALLY REACHED THE GARIGLIANO AND RAPIDO RIVERS. HERE IN 

FRONT OF THE STRONGLY FORTIFIED GUSTAV LINE THE ATTACK WAS 

STOPPED, TO BE RENEWED IN COORDINATION WITH THE LANDINGS SOON 

TO BE MADE AT ANZIO.

Beneath the maps are two sets of key maps, “The War Against Germany” and “The 

War Against Japan.”

On the east wall is one large map, “The Landing at Anzio and the Capture of 

Rome.” This map portrays the landings in the vicinity of Anzio, the establishment of the 

Anzio beachhead, the subsequent fighting therein, and the final breach of the Gustav Line 

on 11 May 1944 by American and Allied forces who, advancing swiftly northward, 

joined hands with the troops who were breaking out of the beachhead to liberate Rome on 

4 June 1944.

It is accompanied by the following explanatory text:
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THE LANDING AT ANZIO AND THE CAPTURE OF ROME

DELAY IN THEIR ADVANCE TOWARD ROME AT THE GUSTAV LINE, THE

ALLIES ATTEMPTED TO OUTFLANK IT FROM THE SEAWARD SIDE. AT 0200 

HOURS ON 22 JANUARY 1944, AN ALLIED AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCE 

LANDED THE U.S. VI CORPS AT ANZIO AND NETTUNO,

1. THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH LANDINGS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO 

THE ENEMY WHOSE REACTION, NEVERTHELESS, WAS IMMEDIATE AND 

EFFECTIVE. REINFORCEMENTS RUSHED TO THE AREA FROM NORTHEN 

ITALY, FRANCE, YUGOSLAVIA AND GERMANY PROMPTLY HALTED THE 

ALLIED ADVANCE. DURING FEBRUARY, THE GERMANS HURLED THREE 

MAJOR COUNTERATTACKS AGAINST THE BEACHHEAD. THEY REGAINED 

SOME GROUND BUT THE ALLIED TROOPS, WITH THE AID OF THE TWELFTH 

AIR FORCE AND CONCENTRATED NAVAL SUPPORT, CLUNG TO THEIR 

PRECARIOUS FOOTHOLD DOMINATED BY THE GERMAN POSITIONS ON THE 

ALBAN HILLS.

2. IN THE SOUTH, THE FIFTH ARMY ATTACKED THE GUSTAV LINE ON 

17 JANUARY 1944. THIS ASSAULT, DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE ANZIONETTUNO LANDING, MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS AGAINST THE 

FORMIDABLE DEFENSES OF THE CASSINO AREA. WELL ENTRENCHED, THE 

ENEMY WITHSTOOD HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRE AND THE ASSAULTS OF THE 

TWELFTH AND FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE.

3. FROM MARCH TO MAY 1944 THE ALLIES MAINTAINED THEIR 

CONSTANT PRESURE ON THE ENEMY WHILE BUILDING UP THEIR 

STRENGTH FOR A NEW OFFENSIVE ON 11 MAY, THE FIFTH ARMY 

ATTACKED AND BREACHED THE GUSTAV LINE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE 

FORCES IN THE BEACHEAD BROKE OUT AND JOINED THE ADVANCE. ON 4 

JUNE, THE ALLIES ENTERED ROME. 

 

GRAVES AREA

The graves area contains ten grave plots lettered from “A” to “J”, five on each side of a 

central mall. Plots A, C, E, G and I are on the left (south) side of the mall and B, D, F, H 

and J on the right (north). Each grave plot is enclosed by a pittosporum hedge. The paths 

of grass between the plots are lined with Roman pines. Here are interred 7,861 of our 

military Dead under 7,860 headstones arranged in gentle arcs, which sweep across the 

broad green lawns. they were originally made in Sicily and southern Italy. Each grave is 

marked with a white marble headstone, a Star of David for those of the Jewish faith --- a 

latin cross for others. Of the graves, 488 contain the remains of 490 Unknowns that 

could not be identified.

These Dead, who gave their lives in their Country’s service, came from all fifty 

states and the District of Columbia. A small number also came from Canada, England, 

Scotland, Eire, Finland, Sweden and Spain. In twenty instances, two brothers lie buried 

side by side.
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VISITORS’ BUILDING

Just inside the entrance on the right is the Visitors’ Building. It contains the 

superintendent’s office, toilet facilities, and a comfortably furnished room where visitors 

may rest, obtain information, sign the register and pause to refresh themselves. 

Whenever the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the 

building to answer questions and to escort relatives to grave and memorialization sites. 

He is always happy to provide information on specific burial and memorialization 

locations in any of the Commission’s cemeteries, accommodations in the vicinity, best 

means and routes of travel, local history and other items that may be of interest.

PLANTINGS

The entrance road to the cemetery is lined with a neatly-trimmed hedge of pittosporum 

tobira.

Just inside the cemetery gates, straight ahead is a large elliptical reflecting pool 

with a small island at its center. Several Italian cypress trees (upressus sempervirens 

pyramidalis) and glossy abelia flank the stone cenotaph on the island. Walter lilies float 
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in the pool. Evergreen holly oak trees (quercus ilex) and a hedge of pittosporum tobira 

line the wide grassy mall through the graves area from the reflecting pool to the 

memorial. Each grave plot is enframed by a hedge of pittosporum tobira and the grassy 

paths between the plots are lined with Roman pines (pinus pinea).

Within the peristyle of the memorial, a single Roman pine (pinus pinea) shades the 

“Brothers-in-Arms” statue. Dense planting of Roman pine (pinus pinea) form a backdrop 

for the memorial.

The informal garden south of the memorial contains planters filled with annual 

flowers and surrounded by panicled goldenrain trees (koetreuteria paniculata) and pink 

crepe myrtle (lagerstroemia indica rosea). Gazanca Varicoloe compliments the Orpheus 

statue. The more formal garden north of the memorial is planted with beds of polyantha 

roses, geraniums, white oleander, purple bougainvillea and other flowers in parterre 

arrangements.

Cedars of Lebanon, Monterey cypress (cupressus macrocarpa), eucalyptus and 

oleanders predominate the plantings outside of the service road around the perimeter of 

the cemetery.
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