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Aisne-Marne American Cemetery & Memorial | |
| Over 3,000 American soldiers from World War I are remembered here. | ||
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The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial is located just outside the town of Château-Thierry, and just down the hill from the famous battle site of Belleau Wood. The beautifully landscaped cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 American soldiers who died in World War I. In addition, the Memorial Chapel has the Wall of Missing, with the names of 1,060 American soldiers who were missing in the action and have no known graves. (Four individuals were subsequently recovered and identified, and they are indicated by a small rosette by their names). As you drive into the cemetery, you are struck by the peaceful landscape and the beautiful flowers and trees. As you approach the Visitor Center and the actual graves, the beauty is transformed into a moving reminder of the great loss of life during World War I, even though America's involvement in the war was quite limited.
The Chapel site is on the front lines that were occupied by the US 2nd Division. During the period from May 30, 1918, when American Expeditionary Forces arrived in Château-Thierry, until early August, when the German forces were pushed back, over 300,000 men from 10 US divisions took part in the offensive. Many of those buried or memorialized in the Aisne-Marne Cemetery fought at nearby Belleau Wood. The Belleau Wood American Monument is just a few kilometers south of the cemetry. Before you head to Belleau Wood, however, check at the Aisne-Marne Visitors Center to see if you can visit the small church just across the road from the cemetery entrance. The church was destroyed during the battles and was rebuilt by members of the 26th "Yankee" Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, in memory of their comrades "who fell in France while fighting for the common cause." The interior contains plaques, names of the casualties, and stained glass windows that commemorate those who fought. Between the Aisne-Marne Cemetery and the town of Château-Thierry lies the Château-Thierry Monument - Hill 204. This large majestic structure, visible for quite a distance, has a map of the American operations in this area.
The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial is located on land that was granted in perpetuity by the French government as a permanent burial ground. It is managed and maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The Commission manages many other sites, including the nearby Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial. American Battle Monuments Commission
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Above, Memorial Chapel at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery & Memorial, Château-Thierry, France.
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