Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial

The area around the town of Luxembourg was liberated by the U.S. 5th. Armoured Division on 10 September 1944. On 29 December 1944, a temporary military cemetery built by the 609th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company of the U.S. 3rd Army. In 1946, with the help of German prisoners of war, the work started with building and placing of a number of monuments, a chapel and an office. In 1960 the cemetery took on its final form and the official opening was made on the July 4th 1960.

In the beginning about 8,412 military personnel were buried here, but after a while 5,050 of them were transferred to the United States. In 1948 the remains of approximately 1,700 military personnel that were buried in the neighbourhood of Longuyon in France and Foy in Belgium were transferred to this cemetery bringing the total of graves to 5,076. Among them buried here, at the head of the cemetery, is the grave of General George Patton jr..

Chapel
At the front of the chapel is a large relief of an angel, with a descending dove above it in a medallion. Above the entrance is written in gold leaf: "Here is enshrined the memory of valor and sacrifice".
In the bronze entrance door are 8 copper-colored reliefs that symbolize:
(left) Physical fitness - Proficiency - Valor - Fortitude - (right) Fidelity - Sacrifice - Familiy ties - Faith. (physical condition - skill - courage - constancy - faithfulness - sacrifice - family ties - faith).

On a few steps in the chapel is an altar of white and black marble with the text in front:
"I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish"
Behind the altar: a narrow high stained glass window with a blossoming vine that extends to the top.
Left of the altar: at the top a medallion with a cross with the text below:
"Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression"
To the right of the altar: a medallion with the 2 stone tables and below the text:
"Take unto thyself o Lord the souls of the valorous that they may dwell in thy Glory"

The ceiling is covered with a beautiful blue and gold mosaic. We see four angel figures with 2 pairs of wings. These are seraphim, the most powerful angels closest to God, they are pure love, light and fire.
In the medallion in the middle we see a dove of peace under a starry sky.
On the circle edge of the mosaic is a text in 4 parts with a Jacobshell in between: "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 „.

On the side of the building it says on the right: "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 same text is in French on the left.

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Source

• Text: American Battle Monuments Commission & Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Lennard Bolijn (1, 2, 3), Marie-Christine Vinck (4, 5)