It seemed fitting on this Memorial Day weekend, that we stop at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial on our way out of town. We are in the area where the Battle of the Bulge was fought.
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region between Belgium and Luxembourg.
In this cemetery, 5,076 American military are buried, including General George S. Patton, Jr. This visit was sobering and heartbreaking. Imagine all these young Americans cut down by war. I pictured each one standing by his grave marker (and one woman, buried here). I imagined mothers and siblings receiving word of each death. It is truly sobering.
The monuments list every American and explain the different battles fought in this area, and throughout Europe.
Here is a small chapel where you can go to pray.
Here is the sea of white marble, each marker bearing a single name.
Flagpole detail:
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 