American Cemetery of Henri-Chapelle
Established by law in 1923, ABMC is an independent agency of the Executive
Branch of the US Government. The Commission is responsible for
commemorating the services and achievements of United States Armed
Forces where they have served since April 6, 1917 (the date of US entry
into World War I) through the erection of suitable memorial shrines;
for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent US
military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries; for controlling
the design and construction of US military monuments and markers in
foreign countries by other US citizens and organizations, both public
and private; and encouraging the maintenance of such monuments and
markers by their sponsors
This cemetery, 57 acres in area, lies on the crest of a
ridge affording an excellent view. The site was liberated on 12
September 1944 by troops of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. A temporary
cemetery was established on 28 September 1944 two or three hundred
yards to the north of the present site, considered more attractive.
Here rest 7,992 of our military Dead, most of whom gave their lives in
the repulse of the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes popularly
known as the “Battle of the Bulge”, or during the advance into, and
accross Germany during the fall and winter of 1944 and the spring of
1945. Others were lost in air operations over the region.
To the west of Highway N-18 where it
crosses the reservation is the overlook area with its flagstaff. The
west end of this area provides a wide view of the broad valley of the
Berwinne stremlet and the ridges beyond. 
The memorial of Massangis limestone from the Côte d’Or
region of France consists of the chapel and the combined Visitors’ and
Museum building connected by a colonnade of 12 pairs of rectangular
pylons. The colonnade, chapel and museum room are paved with gray St.
Gothard granite from Switzerland. East of the colonnade is a wide
terrace.
On the 48 faces of the 24 pylons and
the 4 faces of the engaged pylons at the ends of the colonnade are
engraved the seals of the wartime 48 States, 3 territories and the
District of Columbia. The obverse of the Great Seal of the United
States, in bronze, is set in the floor. The names and particulars of
450 of the Missing, those whose remains were never found or positively
identified, are engraved on the 48 faces of columns. The end pylons
bear this inscription in English, French and Flemish:
HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNON GRAVES.
An asterisk shows those subsequently identified. These Dead came from 42 States, the District of Columbia and England.
The chapel is accessed through bronze doors with
polished panels. At the entrance, on the east side, 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.
The interior is rectangular in shape and of somewhat austere design.
The altar is of Belgian blue and French green d’Issorie marble. The
wall behind the altar is of Belgian blue marble with white veining. The
south wall is also of French green d’Issoire marble. Hung along the
west wall are flags of the Air Force, Armor, Christian and Jewish
Chaplain, Engineers, Field Artillery, Infantery and Navy Battalion.
The pews are of walnut and were fabricated in Holland. The cross and
the pews were intentionally designed to be off-center (with off-center
lighting) thus balancing each other.
The Museum Room is combined with the Visitors’ Room at
the south end of the colonnade. The doors, similar to those of the
chapel, are of dark bronze with polished panel insets. Built into the
west interior wall, of English Portland Whitbed stone, is a map
portraying the military operations in north-western Europe from the
landings in Normandy until the end of the war. This map is of Swedish
black granite; the geographical and military data are indicated by
means of inlaid mosaic, engraved and colored chasings, anodized
aluminium, bronze, etc. Inscribed text in English, French and Flemish
amplifies the details of the map. Underneath the map on a stand of
white Carrara marble are two sets of key maps, “The War Against
Germany” and “The War Against Japan”.
On the south wall is a somewhat similar though smaller map. Entitled
“Aachen and the Advance to the Roer”; it illustrates the military
operations in this region. Again, an inscribed text accompanies the map.
East of the colonnade a terrace affords a prospect over the burial
area. Immediately in front is the bronze statue of the Archangel
bestowing the laurel branch upon the heroic Dead for whom it makes
special commendations to the Almighty.
The graves area is divided into 8 plots, lettered “A” to “H”; these are
separated by the broad axial mall and by longitudinal grass paths.
The 7,989 headstones are arranged in broad sweeping curves upon the
gently sloping lawn. Stars of David mark the graves of those who
professed the Jewish faith while Latin crosses mark all others. These
Deads came from 49 States, and from the District of Columbia, Panama
and England. Among the graves are 33 instances in which 2 brothers rest
side by side, and one instance of 3 brothers; also there are headstones
marking the tombs of 94 Unknowns whose identity is known but to God.
The central mall terminates in a wall-enclosed flagpole plaza, backed
by a cospe of oak and spruce trees. On the wall is the inscription:
IN HONORED MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY
The memorial is set within a framework of Box hedges (Buxus
sempervirens), which has been extended to form a border to the paths
which lead to the graves area.
In the lawns at each end of the memorial are groups of weeping willows;
flanking the memorial north and south of the grass terrace on which it
stands, are groups of Serbian Spruce an Norway Spruce mixed with
Hawthorns. Along the paved approach to the memorial are large beds of
pink Polyantha roses and adjoining the colonnade itself are massifs of
white roses.
Within the graves area Birch, Hornbeam and Yew have been planted and
free growing Bax has been massed in groups against the surrounding
walls. Beyond the wall also are groups of Rhododendron, Ponticum and
shrubby Chestnut and a number of Norway Spruce.
The architects for the cemetery and memorial were
Holabird, Root and Burge of Chicago, Illinois. The landscaping
architect was Franz Lipp of Chicago. The statue of the Archangel was
designed by Donald Hord of San Diego, California. The maps werde
designed by Sante Graziani of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Construction of the cemetery and memorial was completed in 1960. The dedication ceremony was held on 9 July 1960.
To find a grave or more info about the cemetery please consult following link : http://www.abmc.gov
Henri Chapelle American Cemetery
rue du Mémorial Américain
B-4852 Hombourg
Belgium
Phone: +32 87-68.71.73 Fax: +32 87-68.67.17
Video of Henri-Chapelle's American Cemetery.
(12,1Mb)
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