Mardasson Memorial
The Mardasson Memorial is a monument honoring the memory of American soldiers wounded or killed during World War II's Battle of the Bulge. It is located near Bastogne in the Luxembourg province of Belgium.
The first step towards the memorial was undertaken on July 4, 1946, with the presentation of some earth from the site to U.S. President Harry Truman. Dedication was on July 16, 1950.
Architect Georges Dedoyard designed a 12 metres (39 ft) tall monument in the shape of a five-pointed American star with 31 metres (102 ft) sides surrounding a 20 metres (66 ft) wide atrium. The inner walls are covered with ten passages carved in stone commemorating the battle, and the is parapet engraved inside and out with the names of the then 48 U.S. States. Insignia of most participating battalions are shown on the walls, representing the 76,890 killed and wounded during the thwarted December 1944-January 1945 German Watch on the Rhine offensive.[1]
Mardasson Memorial from the north.jpg)
The names of the then 48 U.S. States encircle the Memorial's parapet, honoring U.S. casualties in the Battle of the Bulge
The southeast wing of the five-pointed U.S. star-shaped structure
The rolling Bastogne countryside seen from atop the Memorial
M10 Achilles self-propelled gun displayed outside the nearby Bastogne War Museum
Below the structure a crypt with three altars – one each for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services – was carved, and decorated with mosaics by French artist Fernand Léger.
The Latin inscription on the memorial stone:
- LIBERATORIBVS
- AMERICANIS
- POPVLVS BELGICVS
- MEMOR
- IV.VII.MCMXLVI.
translates to "The Belgian people remember their American liberators – 4th July 1946."
Just beyond the memorial is the Bastogne War Museum, which displays World War II artifacts and shows a film containing footage shot during the battle.
See also
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mardasson Memorial. |
- U.S. Army Europe: The Mardasson Memorial at Bastogne
- Bastogne Historical Center: The Mardasson. Chronological account and American Memorial
Coordinates: 50°0′35″N 5°44′20″E / 50.00972°N 5.73889°E