Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial

[David]

FLANDERS FIELD AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL

The Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium occupies a 6.2-acre site. Masses of graceful trees and shrubbery frame the burial area and screen it from passing traffic. At the ends of the paths leading to three of the corners of the cemetery are circular retreats, with benches and urns. At this peaceful site rest 368 of our military dead, most of whom gave their lives in liberating the soil of Belgium in World War I. Their headstones are aligned in four symmetrical areas around the white stone chapel that stands in the center of the cemetery.

The altar inside the chapel is made of black and white "Grand Antique" marble with draped flags on each side; above it is a crusader's sword outlined in gold. The chapel furniture is of carved oak, stained black with white veining to harmonize with the altar; 43 names are inscribed on Walls of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.


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How to Get There

GPS Coordinates: N50 52.424 E3 27.218

Flanders Field American Cemetery lies on the southeast edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium, along the Lille-Gent Autoroute E-17. It is located 175 miles north of Paris and 52 miles west of Brussels. The cemetery is within 44 miles of Brugge (Brugges) and 22 miles of Gent, the two largest cities in Flanders. Waregem may be reached by train from Brussels via Gent (Gand) in approximately one hour; from Paris (Gare du Nord) in about five hours via Rijsel (Lille) and Kortrijk (Courtrai), and 5½ hours via Brussels and Gent. Taxi service is available from the train station in Waregem.