Honoring Sacrifices Abroad

Entrance Marker, US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

 My first summer as a seminarian in Rome I was strongly encouraged by my godfather to visit the US Military Cemetery in Normandy while traveling through France.  Uncle Jack and his corps of US Army Engineers were part of the allied forces that came ashore that June.  My love of country and history, plus his prodding brought me to one of the most impressive sights of my life.  The US Cemetery at Normandy overlooking the English Channel, the sacrifice of those thousands interred there has a solemn beauty.  I've also managed to include it on the itinerary of parish pilgrimage to France.

Mosaic depicts angels holding a medallion with the Dove of Peace
on the chapel ceiling, US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

Since that visit I have made the effort to visit the nearby cemeteries whenever I can.  Saturday morning after Mass I went to the US Military Cemetery outside of Luxembourg City.  It’s the seventh (of the twenty-five cemeteries) I’ve managed to visit now.  The others are:   Normandy, France;  Anzio, Italy;  Florence, Italy;  Ardennes, Belgium;  Flanders Field, Belgium;  Cambridge, UK.

Detail of "Fortitude" on the Chapel Doors,
US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

These cemeteries, which bury the dead near where they had fallen,  are beautiful to behold and extremely well kept by the American Battle Monuments Commission.  The seemingly endless markers in formation indicate only a fraction of those who gave their lives for the liberation of Europe.  It’s hard not to be proud of their sacrifices and solidarity of purpose even while shrugging over the senselessness of war.

Grave Markers appear to lead into the neighboring forest,
US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

I had to take a bus and walk about a half hour to the cemetery in Luxembourg.  The beauty of the day and scenery only added to the experience.  Upon arrival I stopped at the small non-denominational chapel to say a prayer for the nearly 5,100 who are interred under the white marble Star of David or Latin Cross markers.  There were some art works and maps to inspire and explain.  The cemetery also has the remains of General George Patton who did not die in combat here but requested to be buried here with many of “his men.”

General Patton's Grave,
US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

It was moving to see this Saturday morning about 30 or so Americans who are here in Luxembourg for various reasons at the cemetery cleaning.  Parents and children, friends and strangers come out periodically to clean, dust, polish the cemetery.   It was unbelievable the area they covered.  They polished inscriptions, and dusted chain linked dividers.  They trimmed grass around the base of the marble markers and dusted the tops.  A truly herculean effort that was carried out because “they wanted to give something, too!”  Their presence only enhanced my time there.

Some of the almost 5,100 grave markers in formation (Chapel in background),
US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.

One of the beauties of my sabbatical has simply been time.  This was definitely time well spent.

Father and son cleaning base of one of the flagpoles,
US Military Cemetery, Luxembourg.