There is a lovely video on youtube "here's to the heroes who never came home". Beautiful pictures of American military cemeteries throughtout the world, with the majority in Europe, France, England, etc. if traveling to Europe, it is really worthwhile to try to see at least one of these places as a reminder of what they sacrificed to give us the ability to see a free Europe. Most people do try to see Normandy, but there are many others as well. It is amazing that there are about 100,000 graves of those who never came home.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14649 posts
Our Rick Steves Village Italy tour stopped by the American Cemetery outside Florence last Fall and it was pretty powerful. I was shocked there were so many names on the wall of those that were and are missing. Lots of air crew members.
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/florence-american-cemetery#.VUJewJNEwV1
Posted by
Indianapolis
247 posts
Thank you for sharing Gail. I will be sure to look up the video you listed.
My grandfather (now 93) served in WW2. I am greatful every day for brave men like him who fought to liberate Europe. The loss of life on all sides is just so very difficult to process and fathom.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23609 posts
One thing you might notice is the disproportional number of officers buried in these cemeteries. At the end of the war the US gave the option of leaving the bodies where buried or returning home. Families of officers tended to leave them in Europe thinking that the officers would prefer to buried with the men they led. Families of enlisted personal tended to return them to the US. All of the US cemeteries are very moving. Should visit at least one.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
The HOHO bus in Cambridge England drops you off by the Cambridge American Cemetery (www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/cambridge-american-cemetery#.VUOttSH49Mw).