Visitor Center American War Cemetery In Flanders Field Waregem

There is a visitor center at the entrance of the cemetery.

Three years after the visit of President Barack Obama, a new interactive visitor center was opened (2017).

The center is strong in terms of content. It tells in detail what role two American divisions played in chasing the Germans from the Spitaalbossen in Wortegem-Petegem.

They are located near the place where, since 1923, the cemetery has been where 368 American fallen have their final resting place.

Many more topics to cover, including a series of panels with personal stories of American soldiers, the poem 'In Flanders Fields' written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, and American aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh. It flew over the cemetery in 1927 to scatter poppies or poppies over the graves. Also impressive is the story of the 'Gold Star Mothers'. These are American mothers of soldiers who died in war.

The American Legion, the organization whose main goal is to honor veterans and fallen American soldiers, launched the "Flanders Fields American Cemetery-adopted-a-grave" program in 2014. In a short time all graves (more than 360) and all names on the wall of the missing were adopted.

The intention is that the person adopting the soldier pays the necessary attention to his adoptive soldier. The adopter can visit the grave several times a year and place flowers there. In addition, the adopter is expected to look up information about his or her soldier. By sharing that information with the initiator, The American Legion, a grave or a name finally gets a face.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck
• krantenartikels HLN (regionaal nieuws)