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Rangers - WW II Henri Chapelle Cemetery Rangers who rest in the soils they liberated photos courtesy Honorary S&D, Franck Maurouard, France
The World War II Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
and Memorial is located near Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. At this cemetery, covering
fifty-seven acres, rest 7,992 American military Dead, most of whom gave their
lives during the advance of the American Armed Forces into Germany during World
War II. Their headstones are arranged in gentle arcs sweeping across a broad
green lawn which slopes gently downhill. An overlook affords an excellent view
of the rolling countryside, once a battlefield. To the east is a long colonnade,
which with a chapel and museum at either end, overlooks the burial area. The
chapel is simple but richly ornamented. Two maps of military operations, carved
in black granite with inscriptions recalling the achievements of the American
Armed Forces, are in the museum. The cemetery possesses great military historic
significance as it accommodates the fallen Americans of two major efforts - one
covering the U.S. First Army's drive in September 1944 through northern France,
Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg into Germany - and the second covering the
Battle of the Bulge
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