Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Military cemetery at Mont Valérien, France
Suresnes American Cemetery is a burial ground on the slopes of Mont Valérien containing 1,541 graves of soldiers from the First World War and 24 unknown servicemen from the Second World War. The grounds feature a central chapel, loggias with white marble figures, and memorial plaques inscribed with the names of fallen troops from both conflicts.
The municipality of Suresnes donated land in 1919, and President Woodrow Wilson formally inaugurated the grounds on May 30 of that year. The cemetery was established as a resting place for American soldiers who died in France during both World Wars.
The chapel at the center features bronze plaques that recall the names of soldiers who vanished without a trace during the First World War, and small rosettes indicate those whose remains were later found and returned home. These names and symbols speak to the personal losses that families experienced across the ocean.
The grounds are open daily year-round and are best visited in the morning when sunlight illuminates the chapel and marble figures. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the cemetery sits on slopes with several pathways connecting different sections.
This cemetery was among the first permanent burial sites for American soldiers in Europe and includes a section dedicated to troops whose remains were never recovered. This distinction makes it a symbol of remembrance for all those whose identities and graves remain lost.
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