In the United States Memorial Day serves as a distinct reminder of those who have served our country, and paid the ultimate price in the defense of freedom. To commemorate this sacrifice, some ABMC cemeteries are hosting special events that allow visitors to see the faces of those buried or memorialized at the cemetery.  

From May 25 through May 31, 2017 Epinal American Cemetery will host Faces of Epinal-Dinozé. During this special exhibit you can walk these hallowed grounds, and see the faces of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the fight to liberate Europe during World War II. Millions of Americans served in the war, but more than 400,000 never returned home.

To coincide with Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Memory Grand Est France (USMGEF), the group which manages the grave adoption program at Epinal American Cemetery, wanted a way to bring the memory of these service members to life. More than 1,250 photos of the fallen will be on display next to their headstone or name on the Tablets of the Missing that weekend. Visitors will be able to pick up ‘A Walk Among our Heroes,’ a leaflet published by USMGEF that helps to the story of the some of the men and women honored there. On May 25, 2017 the cemetery will host an opening ceremony at 3:00 p.m. that includes reading poems, biographies of fallen heroes and extracts from their letters.

With more than 5,600 Americans honored at the cemetery, the group hopes this will be an ongoing effort they can support in future years. This program echoes the concept of Faces of Margraten, which began a few years ago at Netherlands American Cemetery.