1

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission
2

Altar and Stained Glass Window in Chapel
3

LOCATION

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial is situated within the capital city of 

Luxembourg, 3 miles due east of its center in an area called Hamm. It lies 3 miles (5 

kilometers) southwest of the airport. The cemetery can be reached by train from Paris 

(Gare de I’Est) in approximately 4 hours; from Liege, Belgium in about 3 hours. 

Taxicabs to the cemetery are available at the railroad station. Luxembourg City can be 

reached by automobile from Paris (206 miles/332 kilometers) via A4/E50 toll road to 

Metz, then north to Luxembourg City via A31/E25. To reach Luxembourg City from 

Brussels (135 miles/218 kilometers), take A4/E411 southeast through Neufchateau where 

it merges with the E25. Once in Luxembourg City, follow signs to the airport, then 

N2/E27 toward Remich/Saarbrucken. The road is well marked and passes within 300 

yards of the cemetery. The airport is serviced by frequent international flights daily. 

Taxicabs and rental cars are available at the airport. Hotel accommodations in the city 

are excellent.

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.
4

Entrance to the Cemetery

HISTORY

On 16 December 1944, the enemy in Europe launched its last major counteroffensive of 

the war. For the location of his attack, he chose the Ardennes Forest where its first 

breakthrough had achieved such tremendous success in 1940. Prepared in the greatest of 

secrecy, the plan called for three armies abreast to attack on a narrow front toward the 

west with Antwerp as its objective. The attack was timed to coincide with inclement 

weather in order to limit the use of Allied air power. The assault began 0530 hours under 

the cover of fog and rain and initially was quite successful as the enemy broke through on 

a 45-mile front. American soldiers resisted valiantly, however, and with heroic effort 

were able to hold the shoulders of the salient, blocking all attempts to expand the width 

of the penetration.

Available U.S. reserves were rushed to the scene of battle. At St. Vith, a furious struggle 

prevented the enemy’s use of its vital road junction for a crucial period. In Bastogne, 
5

Aerial View of Cemetery

at the other vital road junction, American defenders clung tenaciously to their positions 

even though they had been surrounded for five days. Despite a penetration by some units 

of over 60 miles, the enemy was unable to exploit the breakthrough.

On 22 December 1944, the U.S. Third Army launched a strong counterattack 

against the southern flank of the penetration. The next day the skies cleared sufficiently 

to permit the U.S. Eight and Ninth Air Forces to joint the battle and to drop supplies to 

the defenders at Bastogne. Driving relentlessly forward despite strong opposition and 

bitterly cold weather, the U.S. Third Army broke through the enemy cordon around 

Bastogne on 26 December. The U.S. First Army counterattacked from the north on 3 

January 1945 and ten days later met with the U.S. Third Army at Houffalize. By 25 

January, the enemy salient no longer existed.

In February, the U.S. Third Army drove the enemy from Luxembourg and 

breached the Siegfried Line. After capturing Trier, it continued its advance, seizing 

bridgeheads across the Kyll River and launching an attack to reach the Rhine. The U.S. 

Third Army units north of the Moselle River advanced first, covered by fighters and 

bombers of the U.S. Ninth Air Force. In just five days, they swept forward to join the 

First Army. By 10 March, all enemy units were cleared from the west bank of the Rhine 

north its junction with the Moselle at Koblenz.

On 13 March, Third Army troops north of the Moselle River turned to the 

southeast to attack in coordination with the U.S. Third Army troops advancing south of 

the river. By 21 March, the entire west bank of the Rhine had been cleared in the U.S. 

Third Army sector. The next night, in a surprise assault, the U.S Third Army crossed the 

Rhine at Oppenhein, a prelude to the final offensive of the war.
6

SITE

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, 50.5 acres in extent, is situated in a 

glade enframed by spruce, beech, oak and other trees. It is one of the fourteen permanent 

Word War II American military cemeteries erected on foreign soil by the American 

Battle Monuments Commission. The site was liberated by the U.S. 5th Armored 

Division on 10 September 1944 and a temporary military burial ground was established 

there on 29 December 1944. At the time, Allied forces were engaged in stemming the 

enemy’s Ardennes offensive known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” The site subsequently 

was selected to be the location of one of the permanent World War II American military 

cemeteries to be erected on foreign soil. Free use of the site as a permanent military 

burial ground for American World War II Dead was granted by the Grand Ducal 

government of Luxembourg in perpetuity without charge or taxation. Later, the Grand 

Ducal government developed a parking area for the cemetery.

After the war, when the temporary burial grounds were being dis-established by 

the Army, the remains of American military Dead, whose next of kin had directed 

permanent interment on foreign soil in a cemetery overseas, were moved by the Army 

Graves Registration Service (AGRS) to a permanent cemetery site. Usually it was the 

one closest to the temporary burial location. They were interred by the AGRS in the 

distinctive grave patterns proposed by the cemetery’s architect and approved by the 

Commission. Interment of the 5,076 permanent burials in the Luxembourg American 

Cemetery and Memorial was completed on 16 December 1949. They represented 39% 

of the original burials in the region. Most lost their lives in the enemy’s Ardennes 

offensive ( “The Battle of the Bulge”); in air operations over the general region; and in the 

fighting eastward to the Rhine and beyond during the winter of 1944 and the spring of 

1945.

Design and construction of all facilities at permanent American military 

cemeteries on foreign soil were the responsibilities of the American Battle Monuments 

Commission, i.e., the memorial, the chapel, the visitors’ building, superintendent’s 

quarters, paths, roads, perimeter walls and service facilities. The Commission also was 

responsible for the sculpture, landscaping and other improvements on the site. 

Construction of the permanent cemetery at Luxembourg was completed in the spring of 

1960. It was dedicated on 4 July 1960.

ARCHITECTS

Architects for the cemetery and memorial were Keally and Patterson of New York City. 

The landscape architect was Alfred Geiffert, Jr., also of New York City.
7

GENERAL LAYOUT

The cemetery’s parking area comes into one’s view immediately after turning south from 

highway N2/E27. At the far side of the parking area, on the northeast edge of the 

cemetery, the tall wrought iron entrance gate, each section weighing more than one ton, 

bears gilded laurel wreaths, the ancient award for valor. The massive stone pillars are 

surmounted by gilded, bronze eagles. Engraved in relief on each pillar is a cluster of 13 

stars representing the original thirteen states. Climbing hydrangea adorn the walls 

adjacent to entrance. Inside the gate immediately to the left is the Visitors’ Building, 

laced with Virginia Creeper, resembling a small cottage.

A short wide path leads from the entrance gate past the Visitors’ Building to the 

memorial, where it intersects the circular path around the chapel. Facing southeast, the 

chapel, flanked by massifs of Japanese holly, overlooks a terrace paved with stone on 

which are two pylons containing operations maps and the names of the Missing in Action 

in the region and two bronze frames holding three key maps abreast, depicting the course 

of the war around the world. At the edge of the terrace adjacent to the graves area is a 

long bronze balustrade, constructed by the H. H. Martyn Company of Cheltenham, 

England. The terrace itself is encircled by a hedge and a broad border of Cotoneaster 

horizontalis. A flight of steps paved in Vosges stone at each end of the terrace leads 

down to a flagpole and the fan-shaped graves area beyond.
8

The Memorial with Graves Area in Foreground

THE MEMORIAL

The memorial consists of a tall, columnar, square chapel of stone set upon a podium, 

reached by two flights of steps, and a terrace overlooking the graves area with two pylons 

and two bronze stands holding key maps. The pylons are faced with operations maps on 

one side and stone tablets with the names of the Missing in the region on the other. The 

six key maps depict the course of the war throughout the world.

Set into the granite paving at the center of the memorial terrace in bronze letters is 

the following inscription from General Eisenhower’s dedication of the Roll of Honor in 

St. Paul’s Cathedral in London:

ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM

WILL BE HERE REMINDED THAT TO THESE MEN

AND THEIR COMRADES WE OWE A DEBT TO

BE PAID WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND

WITH THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT

THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY.
9

THE CHAPEL

The chapel, of white Valore stone from the Jura Mountain region of central France, rises 

50 feet above its podium. As one approaches its from the cemetery entrance, a carving in 

high relief of the obverse of the seal of the United States of America is clearly visible on 

the east facade of the chapel. Engraved below the seal is the dedicatory inscription: 

1941-1945

* *

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.

On the opposite or west facade of the chapel is a carving in high relief of the coat of arms 

of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Engraved below it is a translation of the dedicatory 

inscription in French.

Above the entrance to the chapel on the south face, which is reached by a short 

flight of stairs, is a 23-foot sculpture of the Angel of Peace carved in Swedish Orchid Red 
10

granite. His right hand is raised in blessing and his left hand holds a laurel branch. 

Above the Angel of Peace is a dove against a cloud. The sculpture was designed by Leo 

Friedlander of White Plains, New York and executed by Cirla & Figlio of Babena, Italy. 

Beneath the sculpture on the lintel over the entrance door is carved: 

HERE IS ENSHRINED THE MEMORY OF VALOR AND SACRIFICE

The bronze door of the chapel, also designed by Leo Friedlander, was cast by H. 

H. Martyn of Cheltenham, England. Each of its eight panels symbolizes a different 

military virtue or attribute of a good soldier. They are:

Physical Fitness Fidelity

Proficiency Sacrifice

Valor Family Ties

Fortitude Faith
11

CHAPEL INTERIOR

The interior walls of the chapel are of Hauteville Perle stone from the Jura Mountain 

region of France.

Above the door inside the chapel is the inscription:

SOME THERE BE WHICH HAVE NO SEPULCHRE

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

On the west wall left of the entrance is the inscription:

GRANT US GRACE FEARLESSLY

TO CONTEND AGAINST EVIL AND

TO MAKE NO PEACE WITH OPPRESSION

Entrance Door to Chapel

Over the inscription is a roundel containing a Latin cross. On the east wall to the right of 

the entrance is the inscription:

TAKE UNTO THYSELF O LORD

THE SOULS OF THE VALOROUS

THAT THEY MAY DWELL IN THY GLORY

Over that inscription is a roundel featuring the Tablets of Moses surmounted by the Star 

of David.
12

Mosaic Ceiling of Chapel

Against the north wall opposite the entrance is the altar flanked by United States 

flags. It is of Bleu Belg marble from southern Belgium and bear this inscription from St. 

John X, 28:

I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE AND

THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH

Above the altar is a tall narrow window of stained glass portraying the insignia of the five 

major U.S. commands that operated in the region, the 12th Army Group, First Army, 

Third Army, Eight Air Force and the Ninth Air Force. It was designed by Allyn Cox of 

New York City and fabricated by Morris Singer of London, who also made the massive 

bronze light fixtures. Patriarca of Rome, Italy, made the pews and priedieu of ebonystained birchwood. The floor is of four different marbles from Italy, Bianco Carrara 

Chiaro, Giallo di Sienna Scuro, Nero Assoluto Italiano and Bardiglio Capella. Inset in 

the floor is a bronze circular plaque containing the thirteen stars of the seal of the United 

States of America wreathed in oak, pine and laurel. In the center of the mosaic ceiling is 

a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, on a background of clouds within a nimbus, held by 

four angels, from which emanates the sun’s rays. At the feet of the angels is this running 

inscription encircling the ceiling:

IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF

THOSE MEN OF THE ARMED SERVICES OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

WHO IN THIS REGION AND IN THE SKIES ABOVE IT

ENDURED ALL AND GAVE ALL

THAT JUSTICE AMONG NATIONS MIGHT PREVAIL AND

THAT MANKIND MIGHT ENJOY

FREEDOM AND INHERIT PEACE

The mosaic was designed by Allyn Cox and fabricated by Fabrizio Cassio of Rome.
13

PYLONS

The two memorial pylons of Valore stone on the terrace are rectangular in shape. 

Inscribed on the outer faces of these pylons are the name, rank, organization and state of 

entry into the military service of 371 Missing in Action of the United States Army and 

the Army Air Forces, whose remains were never recovered, or if recovered, never 

identified. (During World War II, the Air Force was part of the United States Army.) 

Above the names on each pylon is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF

AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND

WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES.

These men came from 42 states and the District of Columbia.
14

A large operations map is set into the inner face of each pylon. The west pylon on 

the right side of the terrace contains a map of military operations in Western Europe from 

the landings in Normandy to the end of the war. The east pylon on the left side of the 

terrace contains a map of the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns to include the “Battle 

of the Bulge,” subsequent fighting to clear the west bank of the Rhine, and the crossing of 

the Rhine River at Oppenheim. Flanking the map of operations in Western Europe are 

explanatory inscriptions in English and French of which the following is the English 

version:

ON 6 JUNE 1944, PRECEDED BY AIRBORNE UNITS AND COVERED BY 

NAVAL AND AIR BOMBARDMENT, UNITED STATES AND BRITISH 

COMMONWEALTH FORCES LANDED ON THE COAST OF NORMANDY. 

PUSHING SOUTHWARD THEY ESTABLISHED A BEACHHEAD SOME 20 MILES 

IN DEPTH. ON 25 JULY, IN THE WAKE OF A PARALYZING AIR 

BOMBARDMENT, THE U.S. FIRST ARMY BROKE OUT OF THE BEACHHEAD 

AND WAS SOON JOINED BY THE U.S. THIRD ARMY. TOGETHER THEY 

REPULSED A POWERFUL COUNTERATTACK TOWARDS AVRANCHES. 

CRUSHED BETWEEN THE AMERICANS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST AND THE 

BRITISH ON THE NORTH, ATTACKED CONTINUOUSLY BY THE U.S. EIGHTH 

AND NINTH AIR FORCES AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, THE ENEMY 

RETREATED ACROSS THE SEINE.

SUSTAINED BY THE HERCULEAN ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMY AND 

NAVY SUPPLY PERSONNEL, THE ALLIED ARMIES AND AIR FORCES 

PURSUED VIGOROUSLY. BY MID-SEPTEMBER THE U.S. NINTH ARMY HAD 

LIBERATED BREST; THE FIRST ARMY WAS STANDING ON THE THRESHOLD 

OF GERMANY; THE THIRD ARMY HAD REACHED THE MOSELLE AND HAD 

JOINED THE U.S. SEVENTH AND FRENCH FIRST ARMIES ADVANCING 

NORTHWARD FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN. PROGRESS IN THE NEXT 

THREE MONTHS WAS SLOW AND THE FIGHTING BITTER. METZ FELL AS 

THE THIRD ARMY MOVED INTO THE SAAR.
15

IN THE ARDENNES, THE ENEMY LAUCHED HIS FINAL MAJOR 

COUNTEROFFENSIVE ON 16 DECEMBER 1944. PROMPT TACTICAL 

COUNTERMEASURES AND THE SUPERB FIGHTING QUALITIES OF 

AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN HALTED THIS DRIVE. DURING 

FEBRUARY AND MARCH THE WEST BANK OF THE RHINE WAS CLEARED. 

IN RAPID SUCCESSION AMERICAN FORCES SEIZED A BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, 

CROSSED AT OPPENHEIM, THEN JOINED THE BRITISH IN THE MAJOR 

ASSAULT NORTH OF THE RUHR. SWEEPING ACROSS GERMANY, THE 

ALLIES MET THE ADVANCING TROOPS OF THE U.S.S.R. TO FORCE THE 

COMPLETE SURRENDER OF THE ENEMY ON 8 MAY 1945, 337 DAYS AFTER 

THE INITIAL LANDING IN FRANCE.

Similarly, flanking the map of the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns in both 

languages, is this explanatory inscription:

ON 16 DECEMBER 1944 THE ENEMY MADE ITS LAST CONCERTED EFFORT 

TO STAVE OFF DEFEAT BY UNLEASHING THREE ARMIES ON A NARROW 

FRONT. PREPARED IN GREATEST SECRECY AND LAUNCHED UNDER 

COVER OF FOG AND RAIN, ITS ATTACK IN THE ARDENNES WAS INITIALLY 

SUCCESSFUL. BREAKING THROUGH ON A 45-MILE FRONT, ITS FORCES 

PENETRATED OVER 60 MILES, BUT AMERICAN SOLDIERS, FIGHTING 

VALIANTLY, HELD THE CRITICAL SHOULDERS OF THE SALIENT.

REACTING PROMPTLY AND DECISIVELY, THE ALLIES RUSHED ALL 

AVAILABLE RESERVES TO THE SCENE. A FURIOUS STRUGGLE DEVELOPED 

AT ST. VITH WHERE THE ENEMY ADVANCE WAS STUBBORNLY DELAYED. 

AT BASTOGNE, ALTHOUGH SURROUNDED FOR FIVE DAYS, AMERICAN 

TROOPS, WITH THE HELP OF SUPPLIES DROPPED BY IX TROOP CARRIER 

COMMAND AIRCRAFT, MAINTAINED THEIR DEFENSE. ON 22 DECEMBER 

THE THIRD ARMY COUNTERATTACKED THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE 

PENETRATION. THE NEXT DAY THE SKIES CLEARED AND THE EIGHTH AND 

NINTH FORCES PLUNGED INTO THE BATTLE. THE THIRD ARMY 

CONTINUED ITS ADVANCE THROUGH BITTERLY COLD WEATHER, 

REACHING BASTOGNE ON 26 DECEMBER. THE FIRST ARMY’S 
16

COUNTERATTACK CAME ON 3 JANUARY 1945; ON THE 16TH THE TWO 

ARMIES MET AT HOUFFALIZE. THE SALIENT WAS REDUCED BY 25 

JANUARY.

IN FEBRUARY THE THIRD ARMY FORCED ITS WAY THROUGH THE 

SIEGFRIED LINE, CAPTURED TRIER, AND BY 5 MARCH HAD ESTABLISHED 

BRIDGEHEADS ACROSS THE KYLL. THE NEXT DAY IT LAUNCHED ITS 

ATTACK NORTH OF THE MOSELLE. PRECEDED BY AIRCRAFT OF THE 

NINTH AIR FORCE, ITS GROUND TROOPS SWEPT FORWARD TO JOIN THE 

FIRST ARMY ON THE RHINE. THEM, ON 13 MARCH, AMERICAN FORCES 

SOUTH OF THE MOSELLE ADVANCED; THOSE WEST OF KOBLENZ SWUNG 

TO THE SOUTHEAST TO JOIN THIS ASSAULT. HAVING CLEARED THE WEST 

BANK BY 21 MARCH, THE THIRD ARMY RUSHED ACROSS THE RHINE AT 

OPPENHEIM THE NEXT NIGHT.

The operations maps were carved and fitted together from slabs of several 

granites: Rosso Vanga and Verde Svezia from Sweden, and Verde Mergozzo Chiaro, 

Nero Biella, Rosa Baveno Chiaro, Bianco Montorfano and Verde Blauco from the Alpine 

regions of northwest Italy. Allyn Cox, an American artist, designed the maps utilizing 

information provided by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Military data are 

shown on the map by bronze letters, enamel-bronze arrows and other devices. All 

engraving was accomplished by sandblasting. M. C. Bargna of Milan, Italy performed 

the granite work. Stefano Johnson, also of Milan, performed the bronze work.

Carved on the ends of each pylon is a flaming sword under a rainbow, the insignia 

of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces. The 48 stars around the 

capstones represent the then 48 states of the Union.

Behind each pylon is a bronze frame with three key maps, one set depicting “The 

War Against Germany,” the other “The War Against Japan.”

GRAVES AREA

There are 5,076 American military Dead who lost their lives in the service of their 

country buried in the cemetery. These honored Dead came from the 50 states and the 

District of Columbia. In 22 instances, two brothers rest side-by-side in adjacent graves. 

Among those interred in the cemetery are 101 “Unknowns” whose remains could not be 

identified. Their headstones are inscribed:

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY

A COMRADE IN ARMS

KNOWN BUT TO GOD.

White marble shafts surmounted by a Star of David mark the graves of 118 of the Jewish 

faith, white marble Latin crosses mark the others.
17

Fountain in Radial Mall

The 5,076 headstones are set in nine plots of fine grass, lettered from A to I. 

Separating the plots are two malls radiating from the memorial and two transverse paths. 

Two flagpoles overlook the graves area at its northern end in front of the memorial. 

Between the flagpoles is the grave of General George S. Patton, Jr. Originally, General 

Patton was buried with the other men. However, so many people came to view his grave 

each year that all the fine grass on his and nearby graves was killed by the heavy foot 

traffic. The problem was solved by moving his grave to the area between the flagpoles 

and paving in front of it with stone.

Each radial mall contains two fountains consisting of a pylon of Valore stone 

overlooking three jet pools on descending levels. High on the obverse side of the pylon 

is a bronze seashell from which water flows into the pools. Carved on the reverse side of 

the pylons is a symbol of one of the four evangelists – an angel for St. Mathew, a lion for 

St. Mark, a horse for St. Luke and an eagle for St. John. The pools themselves are 

decorated with bronze dolphins symbolizing Resurrection and bronze turtles symbolizing 

Everlasting Life. Nathaniel Choate of New York designed both the carve d and the bronze 

symbols.

At the southern end of the graves area are three platforms that afford excellent 

positions to view the cemetery and take photographs.
18

VISITORS’ BUILDING

Just inside the entrance on the left is the Visitor’s Building. It contains the 

superintendent’s office, toilet facilities, and a comfortably furnished room with easy 

chairs where visitors may 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 memorialization 

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

means and routes of travel, local history and other items than may be of interest.
19

Visitors’ Building and Office

Visitors’ Room
20

PLANTINGS

The cemetery lies in a glade surrounded by woods of spruce, beech, oak and other trees 

of the forest. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) adorns the walls near the 

entrance to the cemetery and Virginia Creeper covers the Visitors’ Building just inside 

the entrance. Within the enframement of the cemetery are large-scale plantings of 

Rhododendrons. A hedge of Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and a broad band of Cotoneaster 

(Cotoneaster horizontalis) encircle the chapel which is flanked on either side by massifs 

of Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata). Below the terrace, a border of low-growing Ye w 

(Taxus baccata repandens) and Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) link the two 

flagpoles.

Color is provided in the spring by the Rhododendrons in the enframement of the 

cemetery, and, in the summer, by long planters of Polyantha and tree roses in the radial 

paths.