Those Arrogant Americans

An email is currently circulating asking the question:

America Is Arrogant?

This is in response, I’m sure, to our president’s visit to Europe where he made the infamous proclamation to adoring European crowds there.

However, if you research the subject you will most assuredly find that many, many Americans and foreigners alike believe that America is indeed arrogant.

As this site is dedicated to publishing educational facts and opinions, here are a multitude of both which must be considered before jumping to a conclusion about America’s supposed arrogance.

In my humble opinion, nothing could be further from the truth!

This is the wonderful website from which the following information and beautiful pictures were collected.

American Battle Monuments Commission

The Commission administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. Presently there are 124,909 U.S. war dead interred at these cemeteries, 30,921 of World War I, 93,238 of World War II and 750 of the Mexican War. Additionally 6,177 American veterans and others are interred in the Mexico City and Corozal American Cemeteries.

Our European arrogance in alphabetical order:

1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France.

The 42.5-acre Aisne-Marne Cemetery and Memorial in France, its headstones lying in a sweeping curve, sits at the foot of the hill where stands Belleau Wood. The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 war dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne valley in the summer of 1918. The memorial chapel sits on a hillside, decorated with sculptured and stained-glass details of wartime personnel, equipment and insignia. Inscribed on its interior wall are 1,060 names of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. During World War II, the chapel was damaged slightly by an enemy shell.

Belleau Wood adjoins the cemetery and contains many vestiges of World War I. A monument at the flagpole commemorates the valor of the U.S. Marines who captured much of this ground in 1918.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 04.767 E3 17.486

Aisne-Marne American Cemetery lies south of the village of Belleau (Aisne), France, 6½ miles northwest of Chateau-Thierry. It may be reached by automobile from Paris via toll autoroute A-4 by taking the Montreuil-aux-Lions exit (#19), then via N-3, following the cemetery signs to Lucy-le-Bocage and proceeding through Belleau Wood to the cemetery entrance. Driving from Reims via toll autoroute A-4, the cemetery may be reached by taking the Chateau-Thierry exit (#20), proceeding to the center of Chateau-Thierry and then following the cemetery signs. There is rail service from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Chateau-Thierry; the journey takes about 1 hour.

2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium.

The approach drive at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium leads to the memorial, a stone structure bearing on its façade a massive American eagle and other sculptures. Within are the chapel, three large wall maps composed of inlaid marbles, marble panels depicting combat and supply activities and other ornamental features. Along the outside of the memorial, 462 names are inscribed on the granite Tablets of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The façade on the far (north) end that overlooks the burial area bears the insignia, in mosaic, of the major U.S. units that operated in northwest Europe in World War II.

The 90-acre cemetery contains the graves of 5,329 of our military dead, many of whom died in the 1944 Ardennes winter offensive (Battle of the Bulge). The headstones are aligned in straight rows that form a Greek cross on the lawns and are framed by tree masses. The cemetery served as the location of the Central Identification Point for the American Graves Registration Service of the War Department during much of the life of the Service.

Memorial from the Graves Area

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N50 32.513 E5 28.145

Ardennes American Cemetery is located near the southeast edge of Neupré (Neuville-en-Condroz), 12 miles southwest of Liège, Belgium. The main highway to Marche passes the entrance. Liège can be reached by express train from Paris (Gare du Nord) via Brussels in about 3½ hours and from Germany via Aachen. Taxicabs and limited bus service to Neupré are available from Liège. There are several hotels in the city.

3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France.

The Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 28 acres of rolling farm country near the eastern edge of Brittany and contains the remains of 4,410 of our war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany campaigns of 1944. Along the retaining wall of the memorial terrace are inscribed the names of 498 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The gray granite memorial, containing the chapel as well as two large operations maps with narratives and flags of our military services, overlooks the burial area. Stained glass and sculpture embellish the structure. The lookout platform of the tower, reached by 98 steps, affords a view of the stately pattern of the headstones, as well as of the peaceful surrounding countryside stretching northward to the sea and Mont St. Michel. The cemetery is located on the site of the temporary American St. James Cemetery, established on August 4, 1944 by the U.S. Third Army. It marks the point where the American forces made their breakthrough from the hedgerow country of Normandy into the plains of Brittany during the offensive around Avranches.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N48 31.199 W1 18.067

Brittany American Cemetery lies 1½ miles southeast of the village of St. James (Manche), France, 12 miles south of Avranches and 14 miles north of Fougères. It may be reached by automobile from Paris via toll highway A-11 to Laval, then D-31 to Ernée, N-12 to Fougères, and D-798 to St. James, a total distance of 220 miles. The cemetery is reached by rail, bus and taxi. From Paris, Montparnasse station, via the high speed train (TGV) to Laval, where travelers change to the SNCF bus to Fougères and from there to St. James by taxi. Travel time, including a layover, is about five hours. There are hotels at St. James, Avranches, Pontorson and Mont St. Michel.

4. Brookwood , England American Cemetery.

The 4.5 acre Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial in England lies to the west of the large civilian cemetery built by the London Necropolis Co. and contains the graves of 468 of our military dead. Close by are military cemeteries and monuments of the British Commonwealth and other allied nations. Automobiles may drive through the Commonwealth or civilian cemeteries to the American cemetery.

Within the American cemetery the headstones are arranged in four plots, grouped about the flagpole. The regular rows of white marble headstones on the smooth lawn are framed by masses of shrubs and evergreen trees which form a perfect setting for the chapel, a classic white stone building on the north end of the cemetery. The interior of the chapel is of tan-hued stone. Small stained-glass windows light the altar and flags and the carved cross above them. On the walls within the chapel are inscribed the names of 563 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N51 18.072 W0 38.430

Brookwood American Cemetery is located directly south of the town of Brookwood, Surrey, England, 7 miles northwest of Guildford, and 9 miles northeast of Aldershot. It may be reached by automobile from London, a distance of 28 miles, or by train from Waterloo station in less than 45 minutes. The American cemetery is about 300 yards west of the Brookwood railroad station. There are hotels and restaurants at Woking, Guildford, Aldershot and other nearby towns.

5. Cambridge, England.

The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial site in England, 30.5 acres in total, was donated by the University of Cambridge. It lies on a slope with the west and south sides framed by woodland. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,812 of our military dead; 5,127 names are recorded on the Tablets of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Most died in the Battle of the Atlantic or in the strategic air bombardment of northwest Europe.

From the flagpole platform near the main entrance, the great mall with its reflecting pools stretches eastward. It is from the mall that the wide, sweeping curve of the burial area across the green lawns is best appreciated. Along the south side are the Tablets of the Missing, and at the far end is the memorial with its chapel, two huge military maps, stained-glass windows bearing the state seals and military decorations, and mosaic ceiling memorial to the dead of our air forces.

Wall of the Missing

Reflecting Pool and Chapel

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N52 13.020 E0 03.320

Cambridge American Cemetery is situated 3 miles west of the university city of Cambridge, England, on highway A-1303 and 60 miles north of London. By automobile from London it takes less than 2 hours. Cambridge may also be reached by railroad from King's Cross and Liverpool Street stations. Travel time is about 1 hour; train service is frequent. Taxicab service is available at Cambridge station. There are excellent hotels in the city.

6. Epinal, France American Cemetery.

The Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France, 48.6 acres in extent, is sited on a plateau 100 feet above the Moselle River in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. It contains the graves of 5,255 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the campaigns across northeastern France to the Rhine and beyond into Germany. The cemetery was established in October 1944 by the 46th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company of the U.S. Seventh Army as it drove northward from southern France through the Rhone Valley into Germany. The cemetery became the repository for the fatalities in the bitter fighting through the Heasbourg Gap during the winter of 1944-45.

The memorial, a rectangular structure with two large bas-relief panels, consists of a chapel, portico, and map room with a mosaic operations map. On the walls of the Court of Honor, which surround the memorial, are inscribed the names of 424 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Stretching northward is a wide, tree-lined mall that separates the two large burial plots. At the northern end of the mall, the circular flagpole plaza forms an overlook affording a view of a wide sweep of the Moselle Valley.

Aerial View of Cemetery

On May 12, 1958, thirteen caskets draped with American flags were placed side by side at the memorial. Each casket contained the remains of one World War II Unknown American, one from each of the thirteen permanent American military cemeteries in the European Theater of Operations. In a solemn ceremony, General Edward J. O'Neill, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Communication Zone, Europe, selected the Unknown to represent the European Theater. It was flown to Naples, Italy and placed with Unknowns from the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of Operation aboard the USS Blandy for transportation to Washington, D.C. for final selection of the Unknown from World War II. On Memorial Day, 1958, the remains were buried alongside the Unknown from World War I at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N48 08.591 E6 29.814

Epinal American Cemetery is located approximately 4 miles (7 kilometers) southeast of Epinal (Vosges), France, on road D-157, in the village of Dinoze-Quèquement. It can be reached by automobile from Paris (231 miles) in about 5 hours via toll autoroute A-4, eastward to the Nancy exit, then highway N-57. Avoid the city of Epinal and exit only at Arches-Dinoze. Rail service is available from the Gare de l'Est, Paris via Nancy, where it may be necessary to change trains. The journey by train also requires about 5 hours. Air travel service is available from Paris to the Epinal-Mirecourt Airport. Travel by air takes about 45 minutes. Adequate hotel accommodations and taxi service can be found in Epinal and vicinity.

7. Flanders Field, Belgium.

The Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium occupies a 6.2-acre site. Masses of graceful trees and shrubbery frame the burial area and screen it from passing traffic. At the ends of the paths leading to three of the corners of the cemetery are circular retreats, with benches and urns. At this peaceful site rest 368 of our military dead, most of whom gave their lives in liberating the soil of Belgium in World War I. Their headstones are aligned in four symmetrical areas around the white stone chapel that stands in the center of the cemetery.

The altar inside the chapel is made of black and white "Grand Antique" marble with draped flags on each side; above it is a crusader's sword outlined in gold. The chapel furniture is of carved oak, stained black with white veining to harmonize with the altar; 43 names are inscribed on Walls of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N50 52.424 E3 27.218

Flanders Field American Cemetery lies on the southeast edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium, along the Lille-Gent Autoroute E-17. It is located 175 miles north of Paris and 52 miles west of Brussels. The cemetery is within 44 miles of Brugge (Brugges) and 22 miles of Gent, the two largest cities in Flanders. Waregem may be reached by train from Brussels via Gent (Gand) in approximately one hour; from Paris (Gare du Nord) in about five hours via Rijsel (Lille) and Kortrijk (Courtrai), and 5½ hours via Brussels and Gent. Taxi service is available from the train station in Waregem.

8. Florence, Italy.

The Florence American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy covers 70 acres, chiefly on the west side of the Greve "torrente." The wooded hills that frame its west limit rise several hundred feet. Between the two entrance buildings, a bridge leads to the burial area where the headstones of 4,402 of our military dead are arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. They represent 39 percent of the U.S. Fifth Army burials originally made between Rome and the Alps. Most died in the fighting that occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944. Included among them are casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines shortly before the war's end. On May 2, 1945, the enemy troops in northern Italy surrendered.

Above the graves, on the topmost of three broad terraces, stands the memorial marked by a tall pylon surmounted by a large sculptured figure. The memorial has two open atria, or courts, joined by the Tablets of the Missing upon which are inscribed 1,409 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The atrium at the south end of the Tablets of the Missing serves as a forecourt to the chapel, which is decorated with marble and mosaic. The north atrium contains the marble operations maps recording the achievements of the American armed forces in this region.

Memorial Central Mall

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N43 41.522 E11 12.551

Florence American Cemetery is located on the west side of Via Cassia, about 7½ miles south of Florence. The Rome-Milan A1 autostrada passes near the cemetery; its Certosa-Florence exit is 2 miles to the north. There is excellent train service to Florence from the principal cities of Italy; it is also served by some of the international trains. The "SITA" bus station provides frequent bus service along Via Cassia and there is a bus stop conveniently located just outside the cemetery gate.

9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.

At the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium, covering 57 acres, rest 7,992 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives during the advance of the U.S. armed forces into Germany. Their headstones are arranged in gentle arcs sweeping across a broad green lawn that slopes gently downhill. A highway passes through the reservation. West of the highway an overlook affords an excellent view of the rolling Belgian countryside, once a battlefield.

To the east is the long colonnade that, with the chapel and map room, forms the memorial overlooking the burial area. The chapel is simple but richly ornamented. In the map room are two maps of military operations, carved in black granite, with inscriptions recalling the achievements of our forces. On the rectangular piers of the colonnade are inscribed the names of 450 missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The seals of the states and territories are also carved on these piers.

The cemetery possesses great military historic significance as it holds fallen Americans of two major efforts, one covering the U.S. First Army's drive in September 1944 through northern France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg into Germany, the second covering the Battle of the Bulge. It was from the temporary cemetery at Henri-Chapelle that the first shipments of remains of American war dead were returned to the U.S. for permanent burial. The repatriation program began on July 27, 1947 at a special ceremony at the cemetery when the disinterment began. The first shipment of 5,600 American war dead from Henri-Chapelle left Antwerp, Belgium the first week of October 1947. An impressive ceremony was held, with over 30,000 Belgium citizens attending along with representatives of the Belgium government and senior Americans.

Central Mall Front View of Memorial

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N50 41.803 E5 53.932

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery lies 2 miles northwest of the village of Henri-Chapelle, which is 4½ miles northwest of the Welkenraedt exit (7 miles from the German border) on the Aachen-Antwerp autoroute. Welkenraedt, the nearest train station to the cemetery, may be reached by train from Paris (Gare du Nord), Brussels and Aachen.

10. Lorraine, France.

The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 113.5 acres and contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II in Europe, a total of 10,489. Their headstones are arranged in nine plots in a generally elliptical design extending over the beautiful rolling terrain of eastern Lorraine and culminating in a prominent overlook feature. Most of the dead here were killed while driving the German forces from the fortress city of Metz toward the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River. Initially, there were over 16,000 Americans interred in the St. Avold region, mostly from the U.S. Seventh Army's Infantry and Armored Divisions and its Cavalry Groups. St. Avold served as a vital communications center for the vast network of enemy defenses guarding the western border of the Third Reich.

The memorial, which stands on a plateau to the west of the burial area, contains ceramic operations maps with narratives and service flags. High on its exterior front wall is the large figure of St. Nabor, the martyred Roman soldier overlooking the silent host. On each side of the memorial, and parallel to its front, stretch the Tablets of the Missing on which are inscribed 444 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The entire area is framed in woodland.

The Altar in the Chapel

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 07.302 E6 42.872

Lorraine American Cemetery is situated ¾ mile north of the town of St. Avold (Moselle), France, on highway N-33. St. Avold, which is 28 miles east of Metz and 17 miles southwest of Saarbrücken, can be reached by automobile from Paris (220 miles) via toll autoroute A-4 in about 4 hours. Trains from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to St. Avold station, which is 3 miles from the town, take about 3½ hours. Taxicabs are available at the station. There are hotels at St. Avold, Forbach, Saarbrücken and Metz.

11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, 50.5 acres in extent, is situated in a beautiful wooded area. The cemetery was established on December 29, 1944 by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Third Army while Allied Forces were stemming the enemy's desperate Ardennes Offensive, one of the critical battles of World War II. The city of Luxembourg served as headquarters for General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army. General Patton is buried here.

Not far from the cemetery entrance stands the white stone chapel, set on a wide circular platform surrounded by woods. It is embellished with sculpture in bronze and stone, a stained-glass window with American unit insignia, and a mosaic ceiling. Flanking the chapel at a lower level are two large stone pylons upon which are maps made of various inlaid granites, with inscriptions recalling the achievements of the American armed forces in this region. On the same pylons are inscribed the names of 371 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

Sloping gently downhill from the memorial is the burial area containing 5,076 of our military dead, many of whom lost their lives in the "Battle of the Bulge" and in the advance to the Rhine. Their headstones follow graceful curves; trees, fountains and flowerbeds contribute to the dignity of the ensemble.

The Altar in the Chapel

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 36.771 E6 11.157

Luxembourg American Cemetery lies in Hamm just 3 miles east of downtown Luxembourg City. It can be reached by train from Paris (Gare de l'Est) in approximately 4 hours. The cemetery can also be reached from neighboring countries via E25/E44, exiting at Exit 7 clearly marked "Cimetières Militaires" (Military Cemeteries). The airport is three miles northeast of the cemetery. Taxicabs are available at the Luxembourg station and airport and bus service is available from the city. There are excellent hotels in the city.

12. Meuse-Argonne.

Within the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France, which covers 130.5 acres, rest the largest number of our military dead in Europe, a total of 14,246. Most of those buried here lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. The immense array of headstones rises in long regular rows upward beyond a wide central pool to the chapel that crowns the ridge. A beautiful bronze screen separates the chapel foyer from the interior, which is decorated with stained-glass windows portraying American unit insignia; behind the altar are flags of the principal Allied nations.

On either side of the chapel are memorial loggias. One panel of the west loggia contains a map of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Inscribed on the remaining panels of both loggias are Tablets of the Missing with 954 names, including those from the U.S. expedition to northern Russia in 1918-1919. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

Aerial View of Cemetery

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 20.044 E5 05.376

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery is located east of the village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon (Meuse), France, which is 26 miles northwest of Verdun. It may be reached by automobile from Paris (152 miles) via toll autoroute A-4 or highway N-3, to Ste. Menehould, continuing on N-3 to Clermont-en-Argonne (19 miles south of the cemetery) and continuing via Varennes-en-Argonne. It may also be reached from Verdun, where hotels are available, via Consenvoye or Dun-sur-Meuse, distances of 26 or 29 miles. Rail service from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Verdun takes about 3½ hours. Taxis are available from there to the cemetery.

13. Netherlands, Netherlands.

The World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands. The cemetery site has a rich historical background, lying near the famous Cologne-Boulogne highway built by the Romans and used by Caesar during his campaign in that area. The highway was also used by Charlemagne, Charles V, Napoleon, and Kaiser Wilhelm II. In May 1940, Hitler's legions advanced over the route of the old Roman highway, overwhelming the Low Countries. In September 1944, German troops once more used the highway for their withdrawal from the countries occupied for four years.

The cemetery's tall memorial tower can be seen before reaching the site, which covers 65.5 acres. From the cemetery entrance the visitor is led to the Court of Honor with its pool reflecting the tower. At the base of the tower facing the reflecting pool is a statue representing a mother grieving her lost son. To the right and left, respectively, are the Visitor Building and the map room containing three large, engraved operations maps with texts depicting the military operations of the American armed forces. Stretching along the sides of the court are Tablets of the Missing on which are recorded 1,722 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The Mourning Woman overlooking The Graves Area from the Memorial

the Reflecting Pool

Within the tower is a chapel. The light fixture in the chapel and the altar candelabra and flower bowl were presented by the government of the Netherlands and by the local Provincial administration. Beyond the tower is a burial area divided into 16 plots, where rest 8,301 of our military dead, their headstones set in long curves. A wide, tree-lined mall leads to the flagstaff that crowns the crest.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N50 49.260 E5 48.223

Netherlands American Cemetery lies in the village of Margraten, 6 miles east of Maastricht. Maastricht can be reached by train from Paris (Gare du Nord) via Liège, any city in Holland, or from Germany via Aachen. A bus service runs from Maastricht railroad station. Maastricht airport with taxicabs is 5 miles to the north; service should be verified.

14. Normandy, France.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 and the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its ½ mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial are inscribed 1,557 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The memorial consists of a semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end containing large maps and narratives of the military operations; at the center is the bronze statue, "Spirit of American Youth." An orientation table overlooking the beach depicts the landings in Normandy. Facing west at the memorial, one sees in the foreground the reflecting pool; beyond is the burial area with a circular chapel and, at the far end, granite statues representing the U.S. and France.

Aerial View of Cemetery Memorial from the Gardens of the Missing

The cemetery is open to the public daily except on December 25 and January 1. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to September 15, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, staff members are on duty in the Visitor Center to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 21.394 W0 51.192

Normandy American Cemetery sits on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, east of St. Laurent-sur-Mer and northwest of Bayeux in Colleville-sur-Mer, 170 miles west of Paris. The cemetery may be reached by automobile via highway A-13 to Caen, then N-13 to Bayeux and Formigny, continuing on D-517 towards St. Laurent-sur-Mer and D-514 to Colleville-sur-Mer, where signs mark the entrance to the cemetery. There is rail service between Paris (Gare St. Lazare) and Bayeux, where taxicab and tour bus service is available; travel by rail takes 3 hours. Hotels are available at Bayeux and Port-en-Bessin.

15. Oise-Aisne, France.

The Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial in France contains the remains of 6,012 American war dead, most of whom lost their lives while fighting in this vicinity in 1918 during the First World War. Their headstones, aligned in long rows on the 36.5-acre site, rise in a gentle slope from the entrance to the memorial at the far end. The burial area is divided into four plots by wide paths lined by trees and beds of roses; at the intersection are a circular plaza and the flagpole.

The memorial is a curving colonnade, flanked at the ends by a chapel and a map room. It is built of rose-colored sandstone with white trim bearing sculptured details of wartime equipment. The chapel contains an altar of carved stone. Engraved upon its Walls of the Missing are 241 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains an engraved and colored wall map portraying the military operations in this region during 1918.

Memorial from Graves Area The Entrance Gate

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 12.134 E3 32.894

Oise-Aisne American Cemetery lies 1½ miles east of Fère-en-Tardenois (Aisne), France, which is 14 miles northeast of Chateau-Thierry. It may be reached by automobile from Paris by toll autoroute A-4 taking the Chateau-Thierry exit (49½ miles), turn left onto highway D-1, continue to Fère-en-Tardenois (12 miles). Hotels are available in Chateau-Thierry, Reims (27 miles) and Soissons (18 miles). There is rail service to each of these cities where taxicabs may be hired.

16. Rhone, France.

The site of the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial in France was selected because of its historic location along the route of the U.S. Seventh Army's drive up the Rhone Valley. It was established on August 19, 1944 after the Seventh Army's surprise landing in southern France.

On 12.5 acres at the foot of a hill clad with the characteristic cypresses, olive trees, and oleanders of southern France rest 861 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the liberation of southern France in August 1944. Their headstones are arranged in straight lines, divided into four plots, and grouped about an oval pool. At each end of the cemetery is a small garden. On the hillside overlooking the cemetery is the chapel with its wealth of decorative mosaic and large sculptured figures. Between the chapel and the burial area, a bronze relief map recalls military operations in the region. On the retaining wall of the terrace, 294 names of the missing are inscribed. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

Memorial from Graves Area

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N43 32.1683 E6 28.3783

Rhone American Cemetery is in the city of Draguignan (Var), France, 40 miles west of Cannes and 16 miles inland. It can be reached from Paris-Marseille-St. Raphael-Nice by Autoroute A6/A7/A8 (toll highway) by taking the Le Muy exit onto highway N-555 to Draguignan. From Cannes the cemetery is best reached via Autoroute A8. It also may be reached via Grasse on highway N-85 and D-562, or highway N-7 via Frejus and Le Muy or Les Arcs to Draguignan. Trains from Cannes, Marseille and Paris stop at St. Raphael where taxicab and bus services are available. Some trains stop at Les Arcs where bus and taxicab services are also available. Hotel accommodations in Draguignan are limited but there are many hotels in St. Raphael, Cannes and other Riviera cities.

17. Sicily, Italy.

The World War II Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial site in Italy covers 77 acres, rising in a gentle slope from a broad pool with an island and cenotaph flanked by groups of Italian cypress trees. Beyond the pool is the immense field of headstones of 7,861 of American military war dead, arranged in gentle arcs on broad green lawns beneath rows of Roman pines. The majority of these men died in the liberation of Sicily (July 10 to August 17, 1943); in the landings in the Salerno Area (September 9, 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; in the landings at Anzio Beach and expansion of the beachhead (January 22, 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions.

A wide central mall leads to the memorial, rich in works of art and architecture, expressing America's remembrance of the dead. It consists of a chapel to the south, a peristyle, and a map room to the north. On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains a bronze relief map and four fresco maps depicting the military operations in Sicily and Italy. At each end of the memorial are ornamental Italian gardens.

The Memorial from the Burial Area The North Garden

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N41 27.918 E12 39.503

Sicily-Rome American Cemetery lies at the north edge of the town of Nettuno, Italy, which is immediately east of Anzio, 38 miles south of Rome. The cemetery can be reached by automobile from Rome along the Via Cristoforo Colombo, which runs into Via Pontina (highway 148). Drive south approximately 37 miles and exit at Campoverde/Nettuno. Turn right to Nettuno, continuing 5½ miles to the cemetery. There is hourly train service from Rome to Nettuno, where taxicabs can be hired. There are numerous hotels in Anzio and Nettuno.

18. Somme, France.

The World War I Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in France is sited on a gentle slope typical of the open, rolling Picardy countryside. The 14.3-acre cemetery contains the graves of 1,844 of our military dead. Most lost their lives while serving in American units attached to British armies, or in operations near Cantigny. The headstones, set in regular rows, are separated into four plots by paths that intersect at the flagpole near the top of the slope. The longer axis leads to the chapel at the eastern end of the cemetery.

A massive bronze door surmounted by an American eagle leads into the chapel, whose outer walls contain sculptured pieces of military equipment. Once inside, light from a cross-shaped crystal window above the marble altar bathes the subdued interior with light. The walls bear the names of 333 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

Memorial from Graves Area Memorial from the street

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N49 59.103 E3 12.798

Somme American Cemetery is situated ½ mile southwest of the village of Bony (Aisne), France, which is 1¼ miles west of highway N-44, 13 miles north of St. Quentin and 14 miles southwest of Cambrai. The road leading to Bony leaves highway N-44 10 miles north of St. Quentin, a short distance north of the American monument near Bellicourt. The cemetery, 98 miles northeast of Paris, can also be reached by automobile via the Paris-Lille toll autoroute (A-1) to exit 13, "Vallée de la Somme," then to Vermand and Bellenglise, or Lille-Reims toll autoroute (A-26) exit 9, via highway N-44 south for 7½ miles to Bony. Hotels are available at Peronne, St. Quentin, and Cambrai, which may be reached by train from Paris (Gare du Nord).

19. St. Mihiel, France.

The World War I St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial in France, 40.5 acres in extent, contains the graves of 4,153 of our military dead. The majority of these died in the offensive that resulted in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient that threatened Paris. The burial area is divided by Linden alignment trees and paths into four equal plots. At the center is a large sundial surmounted by an American eagle. To the right (west) is a statue of a World War I soldier and at the eastern end is a semi-circular overlook dominated by a sculpture representing a victory vase.

Beyond the burial area to the south is the white stone memorial consisting of a small chapel, a peristyle with a large rose-granite funeral urn at its center, and a map building. The chapel contains a beautiful mosaic portraying an angel sheathing his sword. On two walls of the museum are recorded the names of 284 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. On the wall facing the door is a large map of inlaid marble depicting the St. Mihiel Offensive.

The Memorial The Sun Dial in the Graves Area

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N48 57.419 E5 51.184

St. Mihiel American Cemetery is situated at the west edge of Thiaucourt (M. et M.), France. The cemetery can be reached by automobile from Paris (190 miles) via Verdun and from Metz (23 miles) via toll highway A-4 (E-50), exiting at Fresnes-en-Woëvre (Exit #32). At Fresnes-en-Woëvre, take D-904 in the direction of Pont-a-Mousson. There is direct rail service from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Toul. Accommodations are available in Metz, Nancy and Pont-a-Mousson.

20. Suresnes, France.

Originally a World War I cemetery, the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial just outside Paris, France now shelters the remains of U.S. dead of both wars. The 7.5-acre cemetery contains the remains of 1,541 Americans who died in World War I and 24 Unknown dead of World War II. Bronze tablets on the walls of the chapel record the names of 974 World War I missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The World War I memorial chapel was enlarged by the addition of two loggias dedicated to the dead of World Wars I and II, respectively. In the rooms at the ends of the loggias are white marble figures in memory of those who lost their lives in the two wars. Inscribed on the loggia walls is a summary of the loss of life in our armed forces in each war, together with the location of the overseas commemorative cemeteries where our war dead are buried.

The Memorial Bas Relief on Memorial Wall

So, Europe thinks we are arrogant, our president thinks we are arrogant, and far too many of the American people think we are arrogant. The Middle East thinks we are arrogant also, even as we are sending our best and brightest to fight for peace in a region that has seldom known the meaning of the word.

No other country on earth has ever bled so much for the benefit of so many without expecting anything more than sacred ground to bury some of our dead! Get a clue, and get some respect for your own country, Americans!

From The Free Republic Blog –

Snip: In 1966, France (under Charles de Gaulle), declared that it was pulling out of NATO. French motives were simple: they did not want to be seen as the 2nd rate power they had become in the shadow of America. De Gaulle announced that all American troops on French soil must leave so as to eliminate any trace of US military presence.

President Lyndon Johnson, who would soon be savaged by the [liberal] American media and anti-war movement ("Hey, Hey, LBJ, How many kids did you kill today?") had his moments of honor. He also had a better grasp of history than most politicians and protesters. Remember that this was the same France and Charles de Gaulle that had been liberated largely by American troops in two costly World Wars. Many thousands of US KIA's were buried throughout France.

When Johnson's secretary of state, Dean Rusk, briefed LBJ on De Gaulle's declaration and the resulting US plan to move NATO HQ from Paris, to Brussels, Belgium, along with the withdrawal of all US troops from France, the US commander in chief had only one comment: "Ask him about the cemeteries."

Rusk tried to talk LBJ out of this controversial response, but the president was insistent: "Ask him about the cemeteries, Dean!"

LBJ stood by this presidential command. Rusk later brought it directly to De Gaulle, following his brief as to how the US would honor the French demand. Did the French in fact insist upon the removal of ALL American troops from French soil - to include the thousands buried across the country who had given their lives so France could again live in freedom? ("Does your order include the bodies of American soldiers in France's cemeteries?" – This is the exact quote according to snopes.) In Rusk's autobiography, he records that De Gaulle, embarrassed, did not reply.

In addition to our European Arrogance, America has shown the same “arrogance” elsewhere in the world:

COROZAL AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in Panama

The American Battle Monuments Commission assumed responsibility for the care and maintenance of the Corozal American Cemetery in Panama in 1982. At this 16-acre cemetery are interred 5,364 American veterans and others. A paved walk leads from the Visitor Center to a small memorial that sits atop a knoll overlooking the graves area. The memorial consists of a paved plaza with a 12-foot rectangular granite obelisk flanked by two flagpoles on which fly the United States and Panamanian flags. Engraved on the obelisk in English and Spanish is the following inscription:

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO ALL INTERRED HERE
WHO SERVED IN ITS ARMED FORCES OR
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION,
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
THE PANAMA CANAL

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N8 59.356 W79 34.351

Corozal American Cemetery is located approximately 3 miles north of Panama City, Republic of Panama, just off Avenue Omar Torrijos Herrera between the Panama Canal Railway Company Train Station and Ciudad Del Saber (formerly Fort Clayton). To reach the cemetery, turn right on Calle Rufina Alfaro at the Crossroads Bible Church and proceed about ½ mile to the cemetery. Taxi and bus service to the cemetery are available from Panama City.

MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in the Philippines.

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II, a total of 17,202, most of whom lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. The headstones are aligned in 11 plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.

The chapel, a white masonry building enriched with sculpture and mosaic, stands near the center of the cemetery. In front of it on a wide terrace are two large hemicycles. Twenty-five mosaic maps recall the achievements of the American armed forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Trani limestone piers within the hemicycles are inscribed the Tablets of the Missing containing 36,285 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Carved in the floors are the seals of the American states and its territories. From the memorial and other points within the cemetery there are impressive views over the lowlands to Laguna de Bay and towards the distant mountains.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N14 32.483 E121 03.008

Manila American Cemetery is located in the Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, within the boundaries of the former Fort William McKinley. It can be reached most easily from the city by taxi or automobile via Epifano de los Santos Ave. (EDSA) to McKinley Road, then to McKinley Parkway inside the Global City. The Nichols Field Road is the easiest access from Manila International Airport to the cemetery.

MEXICO CITY NATIONAL CEMETERY in Mexico

The Mexico City National Cemetery was established in 1851 by Congress to gather the American dead of the Mexican War that lay in the nearby fields and to provide burial space for Americans that died in the vicinity. A small monument marks the common grave of 750 unidentified American dead of the War of 1847. Inscribed on the monument are the words:

TO THE HONORED MEMORY
OF 750 AMERICANS
KNOWN BUT TO GOD
WHOSE BONES COLLECTED
BY THEIR COUNTRY'S ORDER
ARE HERE BURIED

In this 1-acre area are also placed 813 remains of Americans and others in wall crypts on either side of the cemetery. The cemetery was closed to further burials in 1923.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N19 26.5217 W99 9.970

Mexico City National Cemetery is at 31 Virginia Fabregas, Colonia San Rafael about 2 miles west of the Metropolitan Cathedral and about 1 mile north of the U.S. Embassy.

NORTH AFRICA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in Tunisia

At the 27-acre North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Tunisia rest 2,841 of our military dead, their headstones set in straight lines subdivided into 9 rectangular plots by wide paths, with decorative pools at their intersections. Along the southeast edge of the burial area, bordering the tree-lined terrace leading to the memorial is the Wall of the Missing. On this wall 3,724 names are engraved. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Most honored here lost their lives in World War II in military activities ranging from North Africa to the Persian Gulf.

The chapel and the memorial court, which contains large maps in mosaic and ceramic depicting the operations and supply activities of American forces across Africa to the Persian Gulf, were designed to harmonize with local architecture. The chapel interior is decorated with polished marble, flags and sculpture.

Graves Area Statue of Honor

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N36 51.918 E10 19.876

North Africa American Cemetery is located in close proximity to the site of the ancient city of Carthage, Tunisia, destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C., and lies over part of the site of Roman Carthage. It is near the present town of the same name, 10 miles from the city of Tunis and 5 miles from its airport. The "La Marsa" railroad runs from the center of Tunis to Amilcar station, a 5-minute walk from the cemetery; taxicabs are available at Tunis and at the airport. There are good hotel accommodations in Tunis as well as in the vicinity of the cemetery at Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, La Marsa and Gammarth.

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MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in the Philippines.

How to Get There

MEXICO CITY NATIONAL CEMETERY in Mexico

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N19 26.5217 W99 9.970

Mexico City National Cemetery is at 31 Virginia Fabregas, Colonia San Rafael about 2 miles west of the Metropolitan Cathedral and about 1 mile north of the U.S. Embassy.

NORTH AFRICA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in Tunisia

Graves Area Statue of Honor

How to Get There

Visit this website American Battle Monuments Commission for more information and videos of these memorial grounds.

God bless our American veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the life and liberty of others.

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MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in the Philippines.

How to Get There

MEXICO CITY NATIONAL CEMETERY in Mexico

How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N19 26.5217 W99 9.970 Mexico City National Cemetery is at 31 Virginia Fabregas, Colonia San Rafael about 2 miles west of the Metropolitan Cathedral and about 1 mile north of the U.S. Embassy.

NORTH AFRICA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL in Tunisia

Graves Area Statue of Honor

How to Get There

Visit this website American Battle Monuments Commission for more information and videos of these memorial grounds.

God bless our American veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the life and liberty of others.

Home Rant Page Comments

GPS Coordinates: N19 26.5217 W99 9.970

Mexico City National Cemetery is at 31 Virginia Fabregas, Colonia San Rafael about 2 miles west of the Metropolitan Cathedral and about 1 mile north of the U.S. Embassy.