Flanders Field American Cemetery
Lying on the edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium, the cemetery occupies a 6.2-acre site, and contains the remains of 368 Americans who died liberating the soil of Belgium in World War I. The chapel walls contain the names of 43 missing.
HALS Fly-through of Flanders Field American Cemetery & Memorial, Waregem, West Flanders, Belgium.
Flanders Field American Cemetery & Memorial is one of eight overseas World War I cemeteries redesigned and administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), a federal agency created in 1923. Located in Waregem, West Flanders, Belgium, Flanders Field is the only ABMC World War I cemetery in Belgium. Flanders Field was part of a larger effort to create lasting and impressive memorials to the American war effort in Belgium, France, and Great Britain during the 1920s. The practical necessity of burying American soldiers who died during the conflict was first handled by the War Department through the Graves Registration Service (GRS). The initial designs were done by GRS Landscape Architect George Gibbs Jr. in consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts during 1921-22.
ABMC hired prominent French-born American architect Paul P. Cret (1876-1945) as its consulting architect in 1925. At Flanders Field Cret personally designed the chapel and renovated the site plan, with this construction taking place between 1928 and 1930. The basic form of the site was already established by Gibbs and the War Department. The gate with carved stone pylons, brick perimeter wall, and a Superintendent's Quarters built by the War Department in 1923-24 would remain. Cret moved the flagpole and placed his intimate stripped Classical limestone chapel on a low pedestal in the center of the reshaped sunken lawn surrounded by gravel paths. The four rectangular sections of graves, now with Carrara marble Latin cross or Star of David headstones, received a backdrop of square clipped English yew (Taxus baccata) hedges.
Cret's site plan included forest-like masses of trees and shrubs, around the outer edge of the burials between three rond point exedras. Curved sections of lawn and informally arranged planting beds contrasted this outer ring of the site with the clipped and formal allées and hedgerows around the center. Square clipped broad-leaf linden (Tilia grandifolia) trees along the entrance drive help create a geometric formality. A stone urn, displaying the insignias of the four American divisions represented among the burials, was placed at the center of each rond point. Cret advised on everything at Flanders Field from building construction to selection of annual plantings. Through Cret, the architecture and landscapes of the ABMC display a sophisticated Beaux Arts Classical approach, with the Art Moderne details and forms that characterized some of the best civic architecture of the 1920s and 30s.
Documentation of Flanders Field American Cemetery & Memorial was undertaken in 2013-14 by the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) of the Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) of the National Park Service, Richard O'Connor, Chief. The project was sponsored by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), Honorable Max Cleland, Secretary. Project planning was coordinated by Paul Dolinsky, Chief, HALS, and by Charles Hunt, World War I Regional Director, ABMC. The field work, including hand measuring and terrestrial laser scanning, was undertaken by Project Supervisor Christopher M. Stevens, HALS Landscape Architect, and HDP Architects Jason W. McNatt (HALS) and Paul Davidson (HABS). Stevens, McNatt, Davidson, and Landscape Architecture Technician Bradley Odom (LSU) produced the measured drawings. HDP Architect Ryan T. Pierce (HALS) produced the fly-through animation of the laser scan data. The historical reports were written by HABS Historian Lisa P. Davidson, Ph.D. The large-format photography was produced by contract photographer Brian Grogan. On-site assistance at Flanders Field was provided by Christopher D. Arseneault, Superintendent; Christopher D. Sims, Cemetery Associate; Martin Degrande, Head Gardener; and by the ABMC maintenance staff.
The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by the Congress in 1923, is an agency of the executive branch of the federal government. ABMC—guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials—honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces. ABMC’s commemorative mission includes:
Designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries.
Establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the United States when directed by public law.
Controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.
Flanders Field ABMC website:
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Flanders Fields USA Memorial Waregem Belgium
The Flanders Fields USA Memorial at Waregem (Belgium) is the only Memorial in Belgium of US soldiers who died during WW I
An annual event is sheduled by the city of Waregem
This video contains a view as seen by the visitor and some live coverage (audio) from the annual event.
A view to the memories We never may forget..
Visit to Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem (WTV)
U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman visits the American military cemetry in Waregem.
Video footage courtesy of WTV
President Obama Visits Flanders Field American Cemetery
Hear President Barack Obama deliver remarks during his visit to Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium. Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo of Belgium and his Majesty King Phillipe of Belgium accompanied the president on this visit, and they also delivered remarks.
Flanders Field American Cemetery (directions), Belgium
Directions! It's not easy to find a ride but it is just a short 2-mile walk from the Waregem train station to Flanders Field in Belgium. Waregem is a 22-mile train ride from Ghent. The cemetery is the final resting place for 368 American soldiers. It also honors 43 missing in action. Flanders Field includes an informative, albeit small, museum and visitor center. GPS Coordinates: N50 52.424 E3 27.218
Flanders Field an American Cemetery.
The Nassau Country firefighters were invited to perform at Flanders Field Belgium to honor the soldiers that died 100 years ago at the end of WW1. We were honored.
The Menin Gate and Flanders Field American Cemetery
The Flanders Field American Cemetery is located in the town of Waregem, Belgium and the Menin Gate is in Ypers, Belgium. Both are easily accessible by train from Brussels.
Flanders Field American Cemetery and Monument
Adm. James G. Foggo III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Italy, commemorated Armistice Day during a commemoration held at Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Waregem, Belgium, Nov. 11, 2018.
American Battle Monument Cemetery in Flanders Field Belgium
Flanders Field American Cemetery
Memorial Day 2010 - Flanders Fields Cemetery Waregem
May 30, 2010, Memorial Day Flanders Fields Cemetery in Waregem. Belgian schoolchildren singing the U.S. national anthem.
Flanders Field American Cemetery Memorial
June 2014, Jack & Birgie McClendon, Jan & Diana Noppen
2015 Memorial Day Ceremony held at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium
Day of remembrance at the 2015 Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Henri-Chapelle American Ceremony, Belgium. In keeping with our tradition, we always visit the graves of those buried at the very back of the cemetery.
Among the 7900 plus Americans buried here, are 38 instances of brothers buried side by side, including the 3 Tester Brothers
Robert Dent Tester, KIA November 26, 1943, North Africa
James Earle Tester, KIA September 17, 1944, German border
Glenn W. Tester, KIA January 6, 1945, France
Flanders Field American Cemetery
For the City of Waregem 2012 National Heritage Day, TinkerTouch developed an interactive application with the theme 'Heroes - Flanders Field American Cemetery -- Charles Lindbergh'.
This application allows to commemorate the 368 American soldiers who died around the City of Waregem during World War 1 and 'brings to live' each of them in a respectful and honorable way.
Taps-WWI Centennial Ceremony, American Cemetery at Flanders Field
SSG Peter Allison (USA), bugler from the SHAPE International Band performs a stirring rendition of Taps at the WWI Centennial Ceremony at the American Cemetery at Flanders Fields in Waregem, Belgium.
The 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 made of carved oak, stained black with white veining to harmonize with the altar; 43 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.
Flanders Fields Cemetery
Drone image aerial - Dozinghem Military Cemetery at Westvleteren
American Memorial Day - Flanders Fields American Cemetery
American Memorial Day - Flanders Fields American Cemetery - Waregem, Belgium
memorial day Waregem amerikaans kerkhof Flanders Fields Cemetary
the missing formation F16 combat planes , memorial day 14-18 Waregem
Flanders fields cemetary