A memorial at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, includes the names of 463 Americans who went missing in action during World War II. Over 5,000 Americans are buried at the cemetery. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
NEUPRÉ, Belgium — Tributes to the over 5,000 Americans buried at Ardennes American Cemetery were led at a Memorial Day observance Saturday by the U.S. Army general who serves as NATO supreme allied commander Europe.
“These young Americans fought for a noble cause so that evil could not and did not triumph,” Gen. Christoper Cavoli told attendees, adding that the principles they fought for continue to unite the U.S. with NATO headquarters host Belgium and other European allies.
“Ours is a common history shared across the Atlantic,” said Cavoli, who also leads U.S. European Command. “It’s a history that unified us to defeat tyranny and still connects us today.”
Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO supreme allied commander Europe, speaks at a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Troops salute the flag during a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Members of Belgium’s Royal Music of the Guides play taps at a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
American soldiers and airmen were present at the ceremony, which included a flyover by two military aircraft. The families of three pilots who were shot down over Germany 80 years ago and later buried at the cemetery also attended.
The event was one of about two dozen ceremonies planned for the holiday weekend at overseas cemeteries run by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Belgians and Americans attend a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. Several speakers at the ceremony spoke of the strong ties between the U.S. and Belgium. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Most of those are in Europe and contain the graves of U.S. troops and other Americans killed in World War I and World War II.
Many graves at Ardennes American Cemetery belong to troops assigned to U.S. Army Air Forces who died during flights over Nazi territory. Among them is Medal of Honor recipient Maj. John Jerstad, who flew his burning B-24 bomber into an enemy oil refinery in August 1943.
Some of the over 5,000 graves of Americans buried at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium. U.S. and Belgian flags were planted at each headstone to mark Memorial Day, which was observed at the site May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Those buried at the site are but a fraction of the Americans who died liberating Belgium during both world wars.
Two other Belgian cemeteries managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission hold several thousand more graves. The remains of more still were repatriated to the United States.
“We never forget the sacrifice,” Virginie Defrang-Firket, the mayor of Neupré, told the crowd Saturday.
Cpl. Isaiah Ryce, left, and Spc. Tamara Laurent, who support U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, lay wreaths during a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Since 1923, ABMC’s mission has been to honor the service, achievements and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at its sites.
The commission administers, operates and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries. All but five are in Europe.
A towering stone memorial that includes the names of 463 Americans missing in action overlooks the crosses and Stars of David marking the graves at the Ardennes Cemetery.
“Although there are over 5,000 Americans buried out there, when you look at those crosses, it’s not a sad feeling,” said Bert Caloud, the cemetery’s superintendent. “It’s an uplifting feeling. These men did something positive to be remembered for.”
