Six American Battle Monuments Commission sites participate in the European Heritage Days 2023, remembering the U.S. service members
ARLINGTON, Va. (Sept. 11, 2023) — Between Sept. 9 and Sept. 17, 2023, six American Battle Monuments Commission’s (ABMC) cemeteries are featured in a series of events dedicated to highlighting European cultural heritage and ensuring citizens are aware of the historic significance of these sites. This year’s theme is “living heritage.”
“The European Heritage Days are an important yearly event for ABMC,” says Karen Wurzburger, Visitor Services & Interpretation Director at ABMC. “It provides us with the unique opportunity to share with visitors the history of our agency that is celebrating its centennial this year, but it also enables us to talk about the stories of the men and women buried within our hallowed grounds. It echoes Gen. John J. Pershing’s promise that ‘time will not dim the glory of their deeds,’ and ensure their stories are still remembered today and passed on from one generation to the next.”
This year, the European Heritage Days are held at the following ABMC sites: Cambridge American Cemetery, Chateau-Thierry American Monument, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery and Somme American Cemetery.
Participating sites offer free activities during regular operating hours that enable the public to learn more about ABMC, its collections, the way ABMC manages horticulture, the two World Wars, the history of the sites, as well as stories of service men and women buried within the grounds.
The program at ABMC sites is as follows:
Cambridge American Cemetery, United Kingdom
This year again, the guided tours organized are in partnership with Open Cambridge, by the University of Cambridge. This yearly event aims at celebrating this community, heritage, and history of Cambridge and its surrounding area. The 2023 theme is Creativity Unwrapped. The tours cover the fates of the young American servicemembers commemorated at the site, talk visitors through the design and artistic culture to be found on site, and dive into the history of the war in this surrounding area.
Tours available:
- Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Registration needed through this website: What did the world lose because of WWII? | Open Cambridge
Chateau-Thierry American Monument, France
Visitors exceptionally have access to some more than 200 pieces of artwork retracing the 100 years of history of the ABMC. Located underneath the monument, the storage rooms are accessible to the public for one weekend only. Please note that these guided tours will be provided in French.
Tours available:
- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Registration is recommended by calling our site at +33 (0)3 64 03 99 96 or by email at: ChateauThierry@abmc.gov.
Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg
Visitors are invited to discover how information shared by families about their loved ones is critical to safeguarding their stories for future generations.
Tours available:
- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
No registration needed.
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, France
Our head gardener provides visitors with a unique tour of the green spaces of the largest U.S. cemetery in Europe to discover how maintenance is carried out, what environment-friendly techniques have been in place for several years, and who oversees the premises to quality standards.
Tours available:
- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 11 a.m.
No registration needed.
Normandy American Cemetery, France
This year, both interpretive guides and members of the green team offer tours to visitors for them to learn more about the fallen commemorated at this site and the way ABMC staff takes care of this sacred place.
Tour available:
- Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023,
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Workshops – At the Memorial, at the Piepers’ graves and at the Roosevelts’ graves with an interpretive staff member and a horticulture team staff member.
Morning: from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Afternoon: from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tours – At the Overlook
Morning: in English and French at 11 a.m.
Afternoon: in English at 2 p.m. and in French at 3 p.m.
Talks – At the Flag Poles
Afternoon only: in English and French at 4 p.m.
No registration needed.
Somme American Cemetery, France
ABMC staff enables visitors to know more about the history of the cemetery and memorial and some of the personal stories of the servicemembers buried there. “Somme American Cemetery’s “Faces” event is organized. Photos of some of the servicemembers are planned to be displayed in the cemetery.
Tours available:
- Saturday, Sept 16, 2023, 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.
No Registration needed. Meeting at the visitors building.
For more information or if there are further questions, please contact:
Hélène Chaulin
Cell: +33 1 40 75 27 55
Email: chaulinh@abmc.gov
For more information about ABMC, please visit our website abmc.gov or our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC):
The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) operates and maintains 26 cemeteries and 32 federal memorials, monuments, and commemorative plaques in 17 countries throughout the world, including the United States. The four memorials in the United States are: the World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.; the Honolulu memorial located within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii; the West Coast Memorial located within the Presidio National Park in San Francisco, Calif; and the East Coast Memorial located within Battery City Park in New York, N.Y. Since March 4, 1923, ABMC’s sacred mission remains to honor the service, achievements, and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at our sites. For more information about ABMC, visit abmc.gov.
About Cambridge American Cemetery:
https://www.abmc.gov/Cambridge
Virtual tour: https://virtual360.abmc.gov/cambridge
About Chateau-Thierry American Monument:
https://www.abmc.gov/Chateau-Thierry
About Luxembourg American Cemetery:
https://www.abmc.gov/Luxembourg
Virtual tour: https://virtual360.abmc.gov/luxembourg
About Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery:
https://www.abmc.gov/Meuse-Argonne
Virtual tour: https://virtual360.abmc.gov/meuse-argonne
About Normandy American Cemetery:
Virtual tour: https://virtual360.abmc.gov/normandy
About Somme American Cemetery:
https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/somme-american-cemetery
Virtual tour: https://virtual360.abmc.gov/somme/