Memorial Day
Every year in the American military cemeteries of the Ardennes (South of Belgium), Memorial Day ceremonies are held in remembrance of the GI's who gave their lives for the freedom of Belgium and Europe during the Second World War.
On
Saturday, 24 May, in the presence of American and Belgian civilians and
military authorities, the remembrance ceremonies will be organised by the
association ‘American Overseas Memorial Day Association’ (A.O.M.D.A.).
The first ceremony will start at 1000 hours in the American cemetery of
Neuville-in-Condroz, where 5,328 soldiers are buried. The second ceremony
will be at 1600 hours in the American cemetery of Henri-Chapelle, where
7,992 combatants are buried.
On Friday, 30 May, another Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 1430 hours
at the Memorial of the Mardasson in Bastogne, with the support of the American
Overseas Memorial Day Association.
According to the tradition, the origin of the celebration of Memorial
Day goes back to 1863, at the time of the American Civil War, which opposed
the South to the North.
In these days of trouble, in the state of Missouri, mothers, wives and sisters
of soldiers who had died in combat, took care of the tombs of southern Confederate
soldier; those of the northern Union soldiers, considering the distance
of their family, were neglected and left without flowers. They decided to
give the same attention to the tombs of the Union soldiers, and then decided
to repeat this gesture annually. This wonderful idea was at once noted by
the New York Herald Tribune.
On 5 May 1866, Henry C. Welles, a tradesman from Waterloo, a small city
in the state of New York, closed its store and suggested to the other tradesmen
of the city to do the same, not only to honour all the combatants who died
during the Civil War, but also as a sign of reconciliation.
Two years later, 30 May was designated to be the commemorative date dedicated to the soldiers who died in the Civil War. After the First World War, the American authorities decided to extend the honour to all American soldiers who had died during various wars. Memorial Day was born.
Since then, once a year, Americans, not-Americans, families, veterans of the allied armies, military, and civilian and religious authorities are invited to attend the ceremonies commemorating the soldiers.
In
1920, after the First World War, various organisations such as American
Club, American Hospital, American Legion, and others, met in Paris and created
the American Overseas Memorial Day Association (A.D.M.D.A.), which was given
the task of organising Memorial Day ceremonies at cemeteries established
in France.
Taking this into account and becoming aware of the importance of such ceremonies,
Belgium created the A.D.M.D.A. Belgium and the first Memorial Day in Belgium
was held in 1923.
Following the losses incurred during the Battle of the Bugle in the winter
1944-45, temporary military cemeteries were established for Americans soldiers.
Two permanent cemeteries were inaugurated a few years later.
The most important cemetery is situated in Henri-Chapelle. Its main entrance
is comprised of two buildings connected by columns, dominating the Pays
de Herve and the Valley of Berwinne. The building on the right side shelters
a chapel, while the other presents the military operations under using large
mural charts. The Henri-Chapelle cemetery lies two miles northwest of the
village of Henri-Chapelle, which is on the main highway from Liège to Aachen
(Germany). Henri-Chapelle is 4.5 miles northwest of the Welkenraedt exit
on the Aachen-Antwerp autoroute.
Welkenraedt, the nearest station with taxicab service to the cemetery may
be reached by train from Brussels.
The other cemetery is located in Neuville-en-Condroz. It possesses an imposing
memorial sheltering a chapel, as well as immense mural charts recalling
the military operations in Europe and in the Ardennes, featuring a majestic
American eagle decorating the southern frontage. The cemetery is located
near the southeast edge of Neupré (Neuville-en-Condroz), 12 miles southwest
of Liège. The main highway to Marche passes the entrance. Taxicabs and limited
bus service to Neupré are available from Liège.
Americans, non-Americans, veterans of the allied armies, and families and
friends, are invited to attend the ceremonies commemorating Memorial Day.
Guy Blockmans
OPT Wallonia-Brussels
Translation CDC Didier Parmentier
Host Liaison Officer