ABMC

⚠️ Road closure and visitor access to Netherlands American Cemetery June 1–19 ⤵️ The N278 road in front of the entrance to Netherlands American Cemetery will be closed to traffic June 1-19 June due to road works. Please note that the entrance will remain accessible to bicycles, emergency services and pedestrians only. Visitors arriving by vehicle or caravan should use the south entrance — parking will be available in a nearby designated area, followed by a short walk to the entrance. We invite tour buses to reschedule their visit as bus parking will not be available near the cemetery from June 1-14. 🌐 abmc.gov/cemeteries-mem…

ABMC Commissioner Tucker delivered remarks at the Memorial Day Ceremony at North Africa American Cemetery and paid tribute to seven service members from the 515th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group (Heavy), U.S. Army Air Forces, memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. “They gave their lives, far from home, in answer to freedom’s call across the world. We are forever tied to their sacrifice and bound in common duty to remember them with gratitude,” said Tucker. Nearly 3,000 American military dead are buried at North Africa American Cemetery, and over 3,700 Missing are memorialized by name on the Tablets of the Missing. Most of them lost their lives in military activities ranging from North Africa to the Persian Gulf.

This Memorial Day, ABMC Chairman Michael X. Garrett delivered remarks at Netherlands American Cemetery, honoring more than 10,000 American service members from World War II. “In one of the world’s greatest times of need, each one of these individuals answered a call greater than themselves. Each one carried forward the enduring ideals that would help to change the course of history,” said Garrett. At each site, ABMC staff were joined by local dignitaries, U.S. and local military, family members of those buried at the sites, community members and others who came to pay their respects to U.S. service members who died in military conflicts. Learn more: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

ABMC hosted Memorial Day ceremonies at its 26 cemeteries around the world between May 21 and 25 to honor the more than 230,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at its sites. At each site, ABMC staff were joined by local dignitaries, U.S. and local military, family members of those buried at the sites, community members and others who came to pay their respects to U.S. service members who died in military conflicts. This year Memorial Day carried special weight as the nation also remembers its birth as a nation. Learn more: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

Today we pause and pay tribute to those who laid down their lives to protect our country and preserve the American way of live. ABMC’s 26 cemeteries hosted Memorial Day ceremonies to commemorate Memorial Day and the more than 200,000 service members honored at its sites throughout the world. Thank you to all our partners and visitors for honoring our fallen and supporting our Memorial Day commemorations. 🎥📍 Memorial Day ceremony at Cambridge American Cemetery, England, May 25, 2026.

Today, we pause and honor those who gave their all serving our nation. #MemorialDay

More than 200,000 American servicemen and women who gave their lives in service continue to be honored and remembered overseas for their selflessness, courage, and sacrifice. This Memorial Day weekend, we remember and honor them.

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day weekend, let us all remember the service and sacrifices of those who gave everything while serving our country. 🙏 Who are you honoring this weekend? 👉 Visit our website for the list of ceremonies ABMC will be hosting this year: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

Normandy American Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ⚠️ Please be advised of the following Normandy American Cemetery access changes, in observance of the ceremony: ▪️ The site will be open to the public, but access to the ceremony will be limited to individuals with an official invitation. ▪️ Visitors without an official invitation will be able to view the ceremony from behind designated barriers. ▪️ The cemetery pedestrian access will be open during official hours (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), but the parking lot will be closed to the public until after the ceremony. During this time, access will be granted to the vehicles of official invitees and ceremony support personnel only. ▪️ There will be limited external public parking (cars and light vehicles) available adjacent to the cemetery access road prior to and during the ceremony. RVs will not be able to park in this area. There is very limited public/street parking in the village of Colleville-sur-Mer. We invite visitors to plan accordingly. ▪️ The Visitor Center will be closed prior to, during, and immediately after the commemoration ceremony. We expect to reopen mid-afternoon. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. 🙏 To know more about Memorial Day ceremonies at ABMC sites this year, please visit: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

⚠️ Weather Advisory for Memorial Day Weekend Ceremonies. Visitors attending upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies at ABMC sites should be advised that unusually high temperatures are forecast in several locations, with temperatures approaching 30°C (86°F) in some areas. To help ensure a safe and respectful visit, please: • Stay hydrated and bring water • Wear light clothing, hats, and sunscreen • Seek shade when possible • Monitor elderly visitors and children closely • Follow guidance from onsite staff We encourage all guests to plan ahead and take appropriate precautions while attending ceremonies and commemorative events this weekend. For more information on our ceremonies, please visit: bit.ly/3Rpim0K

St. Mihiel Salient: The American First Army tested For the American Expeditionary Forces, the Battle of St. Mihiel was an important victory for strategic and psychological reasons. When the battle took place in mid-September 1918, many soldiers in the American Expeditionary Forces had already experienced a baptism of fire in the war. In addition, a vast supply network – the Service of Supply – brought men, supplies, and material to American Expeditionary Forces and Allied armies from ports in western France. ➡️ Explore the battlefield where the American First Army, under Gen. John J. Pershing, led its first major offensive of World War I. From Montsec American Monument to St. Mihiel American Cemetery, follow the route of a campaign that marked a major strategic and psychological victory for the American Expeditionary Forces. Read more, map this route and download our World War I Battlefield Companion for your future trip : ⤵️ abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

📰 News: Post-9/11 Gold Star Mothers pay homage to children’s legacies during WWI site tour Five post-9/11 Gold Star Mothers from the U.S. visited American Battle Monuments Commission World War I cemeteries and memorials across France and Belgium May 10-17. The journey allowed the mothers to trace the footsteps of those Gold Star Mothers who came before them, to honor their children’s legacies of service, and to gather “sacred soil” from Europe’s WWI battlefields to restore a marker at @ArlingtonNatl. Read more: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

The American Battle Monuments Commission announced the launch of its new Flower Program. The program allows customers to send floral arrangements in honor of fallen service members buried, or named on the Walls of the Missing, at ABMC sites worldwide. This new customer-centric service offers both web-based and phone ordering for floral deliveries to commemorate service members honored at each of ABMC’s 26 overseas cemeteries and three U.S. memorials. As part of this service, ABMC staff will place floral arrangements and offer customers the option to receive a graveside photo showing the arrangement in place. To donate or place an order, please visit: abmcflowerprogram.com

🚨 News: American Battle Monuments Commission to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day at Normandy American Cemetery ABMC will host a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day at Normandy American Cemetery Friday, June 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. CET. The ceremony will honor and remember the service and sacrifice of U.S. military personnel and their allies who gave their lives during the Allied landings and subsequent operations in World War II. Organized by ABMC in partnership with U.S. and local representatives, military units, as well as other partners, the ceremony will include official remarks and a wreath-laying. World War II veterans are expected to attend as guests of honor. Seating will be open to invited guests only, but the cemetery will be open to the public. 🌐 bit.ly/4tGV3wW

3 things you may not know about the Cantigny Monument, a monument that commemorates the first large offensive operation by an American division during World War I. Did you know the monument was designed by one of the architects associated with designers of the Empire State Building? Or that traces of the 1918 battle can still be seen today? Discover the history, architecture, and lasting legacy of Cantigny Monument in our latest article. ⤵️ Read more: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…

Meuse‑Argonne American Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery, and St. Mihiel American Cemetery participated in the 10th edition of Printemps des Cimetières May 8-10. Throughout this event, ABMC sites opened their gates to the public for guided tours, interpretive trails, and workshops that explored history, remembrance, and interpretation. This year’s theme was a retrospective of previous themes: the history and stories of our cemeteries; memory of wars in cemeteries; cemeteries and symbols; women in cemeteries; and fauna, flora, and biodiversity. To learn more, visit our website: bit.ly/4dhY5RZ

🇺🇸 As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, the American Battle Monuments Commission is honoring generations of service and sacrifice across its global sites. Discover how ABMC is commemorating this milestone: abmc.gov/commemorating-…

Planning a meaningful trip in Europe or Asia? 🗺️ ABMC cemeteries are open to the public, free of charge, with staff on-site to guide visitors and families. We welcome millions of guests each year to our sites around the world. Whether you are looking to pay respects at the grave of a fallen service member, explore the history of American military forces abroad, or experience the beauty and solemnity of these pristine architectural landmarks, we encourage visitors of all ages to take part in commemorating those who served and sacrificed so greatly. 📝 Start planning your visit: abmc.gov/plan-your-visi…

On May 8, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered. Victory in Europe Day sparked widespread celebrations and relief across Allied nations after the almost six years of World War II. As the Germans were pushed back throughout the beginning of year, the Allies moved in celebrating victories and mourning their losses. Throughout the war, the War Department had already been collecting, identifying and burying the dead in temporary cemeteries. The U.S. began to turn its thoughts to permanent cemeteries and memorialization. For the American Battle Monuments Commission, this meant returning U.S. staff to its sites in Europe and looking ahead to a World War II commemorative program. The agency’s mandate was formalized in March 1946 with an executive order from President Harry S. Truman. More than eighty years later, ABMC continues to honor nearly 93,000 WWII servicemen and women buried at its overseas cemeteries. May their memory and legacy live on.

📰 News: Cemeteries add rosettes for April service member identification announcements ABMC placed eight rosettes for service members whose identifications were announced by @dodpaa in April 2026. When a missing service member is recovered and identified, ABMC places a rosette beside their name on the Walls of the Missing at the cemetery where they are memorialized. This rosette, a symbol of eternity, is crafted as a bronze rosemary wreath—a timeless emblem of honor and victory. 🌐 Learn more: abmc.gov/news-events/ne…