Ardennes American Cemetery

On the day we watched the Tour de France we also visited one of the American cemeteries in Europe. It is always a moving experience and this one was no exception.

We were the only people visiting the cemetery that day.  We had the whole place to ourselves which afforded us the opportunity to have a personal tour guide.

This is the superintendent for this cemetery - the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial.  His name is Alan and we couldn't believe he is from Lafayette.  Louisiana!  He and his family have been living in Europe for 5 years.

He knew everything there was to know about the 5,323 American soldiers buried in this cemetery and more about WWII than anyone we've ever met.  

The picture he is holding is of Edward Loustalot - considered to be the first casualty of WWII.

More on that later.

There are 3 of these huge elaborate maps in this chapel - one on each wall - depicting the battles of WWII.  They are really beautiful works of art made of various kinds and colors of stones and metals.

The Stars and Stripes

Did you know that the British flag is the most recognized flag in the world? I think the American flag is the most beautiful.

These are the insignia for the major U.S. units represented at this cemetery.

TO THE SILENT HOST 

WHO ENDURED ALL AND GAVE ALL 

THAT MANKIND MIGHT LIVE 

IN FREEDOM AND IN PEACE

Have you ever heard of John J. Pershing?  He was the only person in his own lifetime to become General of the Armies - the highest rank.  He served during WWI, but he was regarded as a mentor to American generals who led the U. S. Army in Europe during WWII.  Generals like Patton and Eisenhower.

More on General Pershing later.

Alan told the interesting story about this reporter who was a Harvard graduate and who worked for the New York Times.  He and seven other reporters were selected to fly bomber missions with the U. S. Eighth Air Force over Germany.  They were called the Writing 69th.  This war correspondent flew his first and last mission on February 26, 1943 when the plane was shot down over Oldenburg, Germany.

You may recognize one or two of the other seven reporters who served with Robert Perkins Post in the Writing 69th:

Homer Bigart - New York Herald Tribune

Walter Cronkite - United Press

Gladwin Hill - Associated Press

Paul Manning - CBS Radio

Andy Rooney - Stars and Stripes

Denton Scott - Yank

William Wade - International News Service

This is the grave of the man pictured at the beginning of the blog post - Edward Loustalot.  He was the first American solider killed by the Germans in WWII and he was from Franklin, Louisiana.  

The grounds at every one of the American cemeteries that we've visited are immaculate. 

Alan told us that General John J. Pershing was given the task of deciding on the grave markers for the American military cemeteries in Europe.  Solid headstones, rounded on top were considered, but General Pershing made the decision for family members to choose between two things - a cross or a star of David.  

He felt these symbols would make more of an impact on visitors when they enter a cemetery.  

I agree.

No matter our thoughts on religion, I hope I would have done the same.

The 2-minute video below is from the ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission) website and it is a fine presentation on this cemetery.

Incidentally, the ABMC manages the 24 permanent cemeteries here in Europe for the more than 125,000 American soldiers buried on foreign soil.  If you ever get the chance to visit one, you should.

There will be no additional American soldiers buried in a foreign land.  These American cemeteries throughout Europe are the last.

The Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial
Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium