News

Press Release: Memorial Day and WWI Centennial of the Battle of Belleau Wood and Operations in the Aisne-Marne Region Commemorations on May 27, 2018

Belleau, France – The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) announces commemorations of Memorial Day and the World War I Centennial of the Battle of Belleau Wood and Operations in the Aisne-Marne region. In collaboration with the American Overseas Memorial Day Association (AOMDA), this event will take place on Sunday, May 27, 2018 at 9:45 a.m. at  Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France.

This ceremony will include speeches from military authorities and a wreath laying. French and American military units will participate, to include members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery was dedicated on May 30th, 1937 and sits at the foot of Belleau Wood. Most of the service members buried or memorialized here lost their lives during operations in the region in 1918. More than 2,000 Americans are buried within these hallowed grounds and 1,060 are honored by name of the Walls of the Missing.

Practical Information:

All roads leading to the cemetery will be closed before and during the ceremony. Cemetery staff highly recommends attendees use the free shuttle service from the Place des États-Unis in Château-Thierry between 08:00 a.m. and 09:00 a.m.

Free shuttles will also be available for those who park their vehicle in the temporary parking lot installed at the crossroad of Torcy-en-Valois or in the pasture near the Gonetterie Farm, both on Departmental road #9. These shuttles will drive people back at the end of the ceremony.

Bags and other luggage are strictly forbidden. It is highly recommended that attendees bring an official ID to facilitate arrival on site.

Vehicle passes for journalists will be available until Sunday May 20th, 2018. However, journalists must contact staff at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery to request a pass.

Journalists who would like to attend this event should contact the ABMC press relations’ team to register ahead of the event. 

Contact us for further information or visit www.abmc.gov.

About American Battle Monuments Commission:
This independent agency of the American federal government honors the services, the actions and the sacrifices of the American Armed Forces who served on foreign soil since April 6, 1917. ABMC administers, operates and maintains 26 permanent American burial grounds and 29 separate memorials, monuments and markers, on foreign soil. It also maintains three memorials in the United States.

About American Overseas Memorial Day Association:
The AOMDA was founded in 1920 to honor the memory of the American victims of the two world wars who lay in American military cemeteries and in isolated graves in Europe. The AOMDA also helps to coordinate and sponsors the Memorial Day ceremonies in the American military cemeteries in Europe.

Press contact: Astrid Gaudefroy gaudefroya@abmc.gov / +33(0)6 07 59 85 14