Suche
Mein Konto
Memorial Day 2025: Remembering the fallen in the US cemetery in Luxembourg
On May 24, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg will remember the fallen soldiers at Memorial Day at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.
Memorial Day 2025: Remembering the fallen in the US cemetery in Luxembourg
The annual Memorial Day ceremony took place at the Luxembourg American Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The event was hosted by the US Embassy Luxembourg organized in collaboration with the American Battle Monuments Commission. The purpose of the ceremony was to remember the men and women who lost their lives in military service.
The celebrations began at 1:45 p.m. with the ceremonial lowering of the flags. An impressive flypast by the 37th Airlift Squadron of the 86th Airlift Wing from Ramstein Air Base in Germany added to the emotional content of the ceremony. Speeches were given by several dignitaries, including Michael Konstantino, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg, Luxembourg Defense Minister Yuriko Backes, and Brigadier General Troy D. Havener, U.S. Air Forces Europe Advisor for the Air National Guard.
Honoring the fallen
A moving highlight was the laying of a wreath at the grave of General George Patton Jr., who died in a car accident after World War II. The Luxembourg American Cemetery, where more than 5,000 US soldiers are buried, offers a worthy setting for this commemoration.
Memorial Day itself is celebrated in the United States on the last Monday of May and honors the men and women who have died in the service of the US Armed Forces. Originally known as Decoration Day, this memorial day was created after the American Civil War and was officially recognized in 1868. After World War I, the day was expanded to include all fallen soldiers and was named Memorial Day. Memorial Day has been a public holiday in the USA since 1971.
Traditions and commemoration
Memorial Day celebrations in the United States often include visits to cemeteries or memorials, family reunions and parades to remember fallen soldiers. In Luxembourg, the ceremony traditionally took place on the previous Saturday, while the actual Memorial Day 2025 fell on May 26, 2025. The cemetery administration was contacted for organizational inquiries, particularly from individuals or organizations who wanted to contribute wreaths to the ceremony.
The event at the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery and Memorial was free to the public and did not require reservations. This ceremony once again highlighted the close connection between the United States and Luxembourg, which is evident not only in history but also in mutual respect and remembrance of the victims of the wars.