The American Battle Monuments Commission participated in European Heritage Days with the theme “Heritage and Architecture: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future.” This year’s program spotlighted the architectural beauty and historical significance of ABMC cemeteries and monuments, emphasizing their role as places of remembrance and connection.  

 At nine ABMC sites, more than 2,150 visitors discovered the rich history of the places as well as personal stories of service members buried or memorialized within their grounds. 

Chateau-Thierry American Monument 

Visitors descended beneath the towering monument to explore the lesser-known archival rooms, where six guided tours revealed the architectural legacy of ABMC. These hidden chambers offered a rare glimpse into the Commission’s design philosophy and mission through plaster molds and historical pictures. 

Flanders Field American Cemetery  

In collaboration with the City Archives of Waregem, visitors discovered Flanders Field American Cemetery’s specific design that transforms remembrance into quiet beauty and shared memory.   

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery 

The largest American cemetery in Europe hosted two complementary experiences: the symbolic guided tour “Building remembrance,” which highlighted the monument’s legacy, and an exhibition titled “Fighters of yesterday to ensure peace for tomorrow,” showcasing the human stories behind the names written in stone. 

Montsec American Monument 

Set atop a hill with sweeping views, Montsec American Monument opened its colonnade to visitors eager to learn how architectural design can honor memory across generations. A special exhibit of historical photographs and on-site guides brought context to this majestic rotunda. 

Montfaucon American Monument 

Standing as a tribute to the combined efforts of American and French forces during World War I, Montfaucon American Monument offered tours under the theme “A shared legacy.” Guides emphasized the significance of the site once crucial in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 

Normandy American Cemetery 

At Normandy American Cemetery, guests had a rare opportunity to follow the footsteps of GIs from Omaha Beach to the cemetery above. The steep trail, filled with quiet reverence, culminated in moments of reflection among the rows of white crosses— a “door to the future” forged by sacrifice. They also attended tours in the cemetery.  

Sicily-Rome American Cemetery 

In Nettuno, Italy, visitors discovered how design and landscape come together to create spaces of remembrance at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Through an exhibition and a guided tour, the cemetery’s architectural elements were revealed not only as memorials but as “windows” into the stories of those who served. 

St. Mihiel American Cemetery 

At St. Mihiel American Cemetery, visitors engaged with a new historical photo exhibition showcasing the site’s timeless architecture. The layout and design of the cemetery, untouched by the decades, served as a focal point for conversations about memory, symbolism, and the enduring peace that followed the St. Mihiel Offensive. 

Suresnes American Cemetery 

At Suresnes American Cemetery, visitors discovered the faces of the servicemen and women buried or memorialized in those hallowed grounds, allowing them to see the humans behind the names on the headstones or the walls of the missing.  

The 2025 edition of the European Heritage Days reminded the public that ABMC sites are not only places of reflection but also bridges between past and present, between nations, and between the sacrifices of yesterday and today’s freedom. At all ABMC sites, architecture continues to speak without words, standing as a lasting symbol of unity, courage, and shared history.