Ceremony at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium to honor World War I American dead buried there.

Ceremony Honors World War I Heroes at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium 

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

On August 5th, 2018, the U.S. Army Center for Military History, and the Army National Guard, conducted a remembrance ceremony at the Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium to honor America’s war dead from World War I.

Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy, Director of the Army National Guard, acted as host. Additional remarks were made by Mr. Charles R. Bowery, Jr., Executive Director of the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Three of the United States World War I Centennial Commission commissioners in attendance at the Flanders Fields ceremony: (front, left to right) Commissioner Jerry Hester; Commissioner Tom Moe; Commission Vice Chair Edwin Fountain.Several United States World War 1 Centennial Commission commissioners attended the event, to include Vice Chair Edwin Fountain, Commissioner Jerry Hester, Commissioner Tom Moe, Commissioner Matthew Naylor, and Commissioner Monique Seefried.

Of the ceremony, General Kadavy said "It was overwhelming to host a memorial ceremony for our fallen Soldiers at Flanders Field American Cemetery. We owe it to those who have made the last full measure of devotion. Humbled by those who have led before us."

A video of the full ceremony can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/armyhistory/videos/10156675883932853/

Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War I cemetery on the southeast edge of the town of Waregem, Belgium. The memorial was designed by architect Paul Cret. This is the only American World War I cemetery in Belgium and 411 American servicemen are buried or commemorated there.

Many of the buried service members fell at Spitaals Bosschen, an action of the Ypres-Lys Campaign by the 37th and 91st Infantry Divisions in the closing days of World War I. Members of the current-day 37th and 91st Divisions were unhand, to represent those units at the ceremony.

This cemetery is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and occupies a six-acre site. As with all Allied war cemeteries, the land was provided in perpetuity by the Belgian government. The headstones are aligned in four symmetrical areas around the white stone chapel that stands in the center of the cemetery. The side walls of the chapel are inscribed with the names of 43 missing American servicemen who have no known graves.

The Flanders Field cemetery is in the area known as Flanders Fields, where fierce fighting took place throughout the war on the Western Front. Canadian war poet Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields on 3 May 1915, after witnessing the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, the day before.

View of the distinguished attendees for ceremonies at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium to honor World War I American dead buried there.

Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy lays a wreath at the cemetery's memorial chapel during ceremonies at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium to honor World War I American dead buried there.

Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy gives remarks at the commemoration ceremony.

Piper for the ceremony at Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium to honor World War I American dead buried there.