Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henri-Chapelle American Cemeteryand Memorial |
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| American Battle Monuments Commission | |
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| Used for those deceased 1941–1945 | |
| Established | 1945 |
| Location | 50°41′49″N 5°54′00″E / 50.697°N 5.900°E near |
| Designed by | Holabird, Root and Burgee of Chicago, Illinois Franz Lipp of Chicago, Illinois (landscaping) |
| Total burials | 7,992 |
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Unknowns
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94 |
| Statistics source: ABMC Henri-Chapelle website | |
The Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial is a special place in eastern Belgium. It is a war grave cemetery for American soldiers who died during World War II. This cemetery is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) northwest of Henri-Chapelle. It is also about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Liège.
The cemetery was officially opened in 1960. It is a large area, covering about 57 acres (23 hectares). Here, 7,992 American soldiers are buried. It is one of three American war cemeteries in Belgium. The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) takes care of this important site.
History of the Cemetery
Most of the soldiers buried at Henri-Chapelle died in late 1944 and early 1945. This was when the Allied forces were pushing into Germany. Many of these soldiers fought in two major events. One was the First United States Army's advance through northern Europe. This included France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. They then moved into Germany in September 1944.
The other major event was the Battle of the Bulge. This huge battle took place in the winter of 1944-1945. It also included the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and the capture of Aachen. These were very tough fights.
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service began to move bodies back to the United States. This process started on July 27, 1947. The first group of soldiers left the Belgian port of Antwerp in October 1947. Over 30,000 Belgian citizens came to honor them.
Cemetery Design and Features
The graves at Henri-Chapelle are arranged in gentle arcs. These arcs spread across the green, sloping lawns. A main road goes through the center of the cemetery.
There is a beautiful chapel at the cemetery. It also has a visitor's center. Inside, you can see maps carved from granite. These maps show how U.S. forces advanced across Belgium and into Germany.
A long structure called a colonnade lists the names of 450 missing U.S. service members. If a soldier's body was later found or identified, a bronze rosette is placed next to their name. In 1956, a statue called Angel of Peace was placed at the cemetery. It was created by an artist named Donal Hord.
Brave Soldiers Buried Here
Many brave soldiers are buried at Henri-Chapelle. Some of them received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military.
Here are a few notable people buried here:
- Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle (1908–1944): He was a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces. He flew a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. He was the highest-ranking U.S. soldier buried at Henri-Chapelle. An air force base, Castle Air Force Base, was named after him.
- Technician Fourth Grade Truman C. Kimbro (1919–1944): He was honored for his brave actions against enemy forces in Belgium.
- Private First Class Francis X. McGraw (1918–1944): He was recognized for his courageous actions against enemy forces in Germany.
- Lieutenant William Nellis (1916–1944): He was a pilot in the USAAF. He flew a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt plane. Nellis Air Force Base is named in his honor.
