Commander Luis Perales, Spanish Navy
The most impressive is the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, near Omaha Beach. However, there is a very small one located in Minorca, in the estuary of Mahón, which I visited more than 20 years ago, when the U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations paid tribute to the American sailors who died in the Mediterranean during the 19th Century.
Lieutenant Michael D. Walker, U.S. Navy
On the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019, I was lucky to accompany American Legion national leaders to the Normandy American Cemetery, Brittany American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument, and Utah Beach American Memorial. While all were remarkable, the place most special to me is the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, which I visited often while studying at Churchill College, University of Cambridge.
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Site. U.S. Air Force (Anthony Hetlage)
William C. Bell, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
I have visited three American cemeteries in Europe: Luxembourg (Hamm), Normandy (Colleville-sur-Mer), and Aisne-Marne at Belleau Wood. As a third-generation Marine veteran, I found Aisne-Marne the most memorable because I could honor Corporal Charles Rollins, my grandfather who served during World War I.
Gordon C. Morse
At least ten, including ones in the U.K., Belgium, and Luxembourg, but mostly in France. First read Lisa Budreau’s Bodies of War, and then ask a cemetery superintendent a few questions. You will be surprised what you learn. Meuse-Argonne is much larger than Normandy but is infrequently attended. That place will break your heart. No sitting U.S. president has ever visited it, an outrage.
Russ deCastongrene
I can remember visiting Normandy, Luxembourg, and one in Italy. At Normandy, we visited parts of the Atlantic wall. A great drive. At the Luxembourg cemetery we visited some of the Maginot Line forts. In Italy, they let several of us veterans fold the flag at sunset. At each one I got a bit choked up and said a few prayers for our guys who made the ultimate sacrifice. God bless them.
Captain Jan Maarten van Tol, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Seven. While the Normandy Cemetery is visually the most stunning setting, the Meuse-Argonne Memorial in France is similarly stirring, not least because so many American troops had to fight and die there for a second time in two generations to help save Europe.
Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Balleau, France. U.S. Marine Corps (Brytani Musick)
Javier Martinez, Congressional Medal of Honor Society
I have twice visited Normandy and Aisne-Marne cemeteries in France with my high school students. We did service work by washing headstones. It taught the kids a little something about giving back. Also visited Belleau Wood and Utah Beach monuments and the Ardennes cemetery in Belgium.
Commander Jennifer Runion, U.S. Coast Guard
The Netherlands American Cemetery was most meaningful of six. Eight veterans were introduced to Dutch children by a woman who had been a child in 1944. As she described her relief at being offered safety and chocolate, the veterans brought tears to her eyes by revealing their surprise gift: chocolate.
Lieutenant Kyle Cregge, U.S. Navy
While not foreign territory for Americans, I have visited the World War II Saipan American Memorial, located near the beach overlooking Tanapag Harbor on the island of Saipan, along with the Korean memorial in the vicinity of a blown-out Japanese bunker. So many people fought for such small pieces of territory so many years ago.
Chief Petty Officer John M. Duffy, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The most memorable is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the beautiful Punchbowl crater. I was also fortunate to visit the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and the monument atop Mount Suribachi.
Lieutenant Neil Rampy, U.S. Navy
Saipan American Memorial at American Memorial Park. I love the inscription: “War drew them from their homeland in the sunlit morning of their youth. Those who did not come back remain in perpetual springtime. Forever young, and a part of us is with them always.”
