In Flanders Field American War Cemetery

This war cemetery contains the graves of 411 American soldiers and officers who fell in the First World War. It also commemorates 41 missing American soldiers.

Chapel of the American War Cemetery
On the front: "Greet them ever with grateful hearts"

on the right: "This chapel has been erected by the United States of America in memory of her soldiers who fought and died in Belgium during the world War. These graves are the permanent and visible symbol of the heroic devotion with which they gave their lives to the common cause of humanity.

on the backside: Dutch text

on the left: French text

In 1930, work was started on the construction of the central chapel. It was built in white French natural stone with a heavy bronze entrance door in relief decorated with a gilded cross, surrounded by oak branches and rays.

Above the door a yellow-colored stained-glass window decorated with tracery.
Above the entrance to the chapel, it reads in pure gold leaf, "Greet them ever with grateful hearts" ("Remember them always with grateful hearts").

On the inside of the chapel, fluted pilasters have been placed in the corners and pale pink marble text plates in the shallow recesses.

The ceiling is covered with a beige and gold mosaic, decorated with doves of peace and a gilded oil lamp under a starry sky in the center.

The floor has a beige marble floor. On a few steps there is an altar made of white and black marble. To the side of the altar there are two partially gilded and black painted Egyptian-style candlesticks

On a plate behind the altar: a continuous gilded band with a gilded sword in the center with the point pointing down.

On the front of the altar: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death (Hosea, XIII, 14)".

To the left of the altar: at the top a medallion with a meander motif depicting an eagle; bottom: "In memory of those American soldiers who fought in this region and who sleep in unknown graves", the 43 names arranged alphabetically;
right of the altar: same text as left, names arranged alphabetically.

The chapel with beveled corners stands on an octagonal platform and is decorated with stylized pilasters, finished with a continuous cornice with a toothed frame motif. On this is another drum with a finer cornice and four lion heads, serving as gargoyles.

On the back a relief of a woman with a wreath, symbol of Sadness and underneath the Dutch text "In memory of their soldiers who fought and died in Belgium during the Great War, this place of worship was erected by the United States of America. these tombs bear witness to the heroic sacrifice made by them for the common good of mankind "

On the right side is a relief with a writing woman symbolizing History, below the above text in English.

On the left a relief with a woman with a pilot light, symbol of the Remembrance, below the French translation of the above text.

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge + Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge (1, 2, 3, 4), Marie-Christine Vinck (5)
• Archief ruimte en erfgoed – afdeling West-Vlaanderen