Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial — Attraction in Verdun

Was not given any information on my family’s grave My husband and I are handicapped. No was was at the visitor center so I parked in front for him to go in and find out where my great uncle from WW1 is buried. No one was inside. A security guard came and told me I was not allowed to park at the visitor center and had to park in the parking lot for all activities at the cemetery. There were no signed saying no parking. I told him I came over from the states to pay respect. He told me I had to leave the area. I could not wait for my husband to get in the car. So I drove into the parking lot, turned around and went and picked up my husband. By then it was 410pm. The sign said they close at 5m. I then went down to the steps by the cemetery and parked and with great difficulty got up multiple steps crying because I couldn’t pay respect to my great uncle for giving his life. I could see the guard over at the visitor center watching me struggle. All the roads to the cemetery to get closer and to the chapel were chain linked off before 4pm. It was obvious the person in charge and the guard wanted to go home!!! They would not help me find my family grave but they let farm equipment race through there from one field to another. Whoever is in charge of this cemetery this is not the end of my voicing my complaint. 2of my great uncles gave their lives for freedom in Europe in WW1. The other family member was never found. I had the privilege to visit my uncle at Avold cemetery and was treated as an honored guest to visit his grave. You today should be ashamed at treating a loved one and the fallen with no respect because you want to leave on...

I visited here with my tour guide not realizing that this is the largest American cemetery in Europe. While this site probably sees a fraction of the visitors compared to the Omaha Beach cemetery, it is no less powerful and moving. This site houses roughly 14,000 soldiers, compared with 9,000 at Omaha. The grounds are kept in impeccable shape. Walking among the crosses I was overcome with emotion looking at the sheer number and space filled with the fallen. Being located seemingly out of nowhere in the middle of the forest and farm land, it really helps bring into perspective what kind of geography the US soldiers were fighting and dying in during 1918. While most Americans tend to overlook our involvement in the Great War due to what happened afterward, I personally am glad I had the chance to visit this site and honor the fallen. It has inspired me to learn more about these young men who served...

I havenever seen something as ceremnonial and opulent as this cemetery. The graves are set up and taken care of perfectly, several gardeners and maintenance personell was roaming and taking care of the whole are and the visitor center and the chapel are in perfect shape. The large tree avenue guides the street through the area. The sheer vastness of the area and the level of detail shows, which nation clearly has the most money for its war funds and will ever have. Take at least one hour to roam the area, if you want to explore...