Details:
The US Embassy in Luxembourg confirmed that the annual Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg-Hamm on Saturday 25 May 2024 at 13:45.
The US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Tom Barrett, together with the American Battle Monuments Commission, is inviting members of the public and press to attend this ceremony. Government and military representatives of the United States and Luxembourg, including the latter's Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes.
Representatives of organisations wishing to have a wreath pre-positioned for the ceremony are asked to inform the cemetery as soon as possible via email: luxembourg@abmc.gov or via tel.: 431-727. All wreaths must be delivered to the cemetery no later than 10:00 on 25 May.
As the US Embassy recalled, Memorial Day in the US is observed on the last Monday of May and honours the men and women who died while serving in the US military. Whilst Memorial Day 2024 will occur on Monday 27 May, it is traditionally marked with a ceremony in Luxembourg the preceding Saturday.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it began following the US Civil War as a remembrance of the fallen from that conflict and was formally recognised in 1868. After World War I, the day came to honour all those who had died in military service and became known as Memorial Day. In 1971, the US Congress established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May. The US Embassy noted that many Americans observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades to remember and show gratitude for those who died in the service of their country.
According to Luxembourg's Ministry of State and the Service de la mémoire de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale (service for remembering the Second World War), more than 5,000 military personnel are buried at the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery. Most of them died during the Battle of the Bulge, the 80th anniversary of which is being commemorated this year. It is also the resting place of General Patton who asked to be buried alongside his comrades in arms.
Venue: Luxembourg American Military Cemetery and Memorial (50 Val du Scheid, L-2517 Luxembourg)
Organiser: US Embassy in Luxembourg; American Battle Monuments Commission
Price: Free entry
Reservations: n/a
