Memorial Day at Lorraine American Cemetery

  • Published
  • By Petra Lessoing
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  A Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate the memory of the American war dead who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, is being held at 11 a.m. May 25 at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, France. 

The ceremony includes a fly over by a C-130 aircraft, the playing of the French and American national hymns, prayers, and performances by a local choir.
The deputy mayor of St. Avold, Andre Wojciechowski, and Brig. Gen. Keith Gallagher, Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe Regional Medical Command, will hold speeches. At the end, there will be a placing of wreaths and floral tributes to be followed by firing of volleys, taps and rising of the colors. 

French troops are represented by the French Air Force, Frescaty, AB 128, and American troops are represented by the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band and the Medical Corps Europe. 

"This year we expect at least four family groups from the states visiting the graves of relatives," said Horace Thompson, Lorraine American Cemetery superintendent. One group consists of 25 family members, who have next-of-kin buried here, and another group belongs to the American War Orphans Network. 

"We expect about 1,500 people attending the ceremony," said Mr. Thompson. "If the weather is nice, a lot of local nationals will come out as well," he said.
The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial covers 113.5 acres and contains the largest number of graves of military World War II victims in Europe, a total of 10,489.
Most of the dead here were killed while driving the German forces from the fortress city of Metz toward the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River. 

"Initially, there were more than 16,000 Americans interred in the St. Avold region, mostly from the U.S. Seventh Army's Infantry and Armored Divisions and its Cavalry Groups," said Walter Benjamin, assistant supervisor at Lorraine American Cemetery. St. Avold served as a vital communications center for the vast network of enemy defenses guarding the western border of the Third Reich. 

"The last American soldier who died here in this area, just one day before World War II was over, is buried here as well, " said Mr. Benjamin. 

Directly following the ceremony at the cemetery, there is a reception in the town of St. Avold, and then the French-American Organization sponsors a picnic at the Cultural Activities Center in St. Avold. The meal costs 12 Euros for adults and 5 Euros for children. For registration, call Benno Niedzielski at 0033-387-93-0266. 

An Armed Forces Day memorial service with Echo Taps will be at 11 a.m. May 17.
Anybody interested in attending the Hochfelden Memorial Day ceremony in the village of Hochfelden, France, at 10:15 a.m. May 21, or the Mont Saint Pierre Memorial Day ceremony at Mont Saint Pierre near the village of Villers-Stoncourt, France, should arrive at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold about one and a half to two hours prior to the ceremonies and follow the staff to the site. 

For more information about the ceremonies, the cemetery and directions, visit www.abmc.gov, call 0033-387-92-0732 or e-mail lorraine@abmc.gov.