On our recent visit to Cambridge we visited the American Military Memorial, located on the outskirts of Cambridge. In 1943 the University of Cambridge donated 30.5 acres of land to build a permenent American military cemetery. This location was chosen partly for it's beautiful surroundings, and also because a large proportion of American casualties occured in this area. As Cambridgeshire is very flat, which made it ideal for the purpose, there was an American airbase here. The cemerery was dedicated in 1956.
On entering the cemetery the first thing you see is the American flag. This imposing flagpole is 72 feet high. Looking down toward the cemetery the nearest headstones are arranged like the spokes of a wheel.
As you walk through the cemetery it is very moving to see so many graves of all these young men who gave their lives.
Looking down the Great Mall toward the memorial are the these beautiful pools, with beds of Polyantha roses planted on either side.
To the right of the photo is the 472 foot Wall Of The Missing, which is a memorial to the 5,125 missing soldiers and airmen either not recovered, or not identified. The memorial itself is made up of a large museum chamber, and a smaller chapel.
Looking across the pools to the many headstones, you can see what a beautiful and tranquil setting it is. The feeling you get is one of peace.
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We have two American war memorials in Edinburgh, one on the Calton Hill showing a slave looking at Abraham Lincoln is a US Civil War memorial and was erected to honour those of Scottish ancestry who fought in the US CW. I seem to recall it was erected in the 1890s.
The other memorial is one that commemorates US servicemen who served in the Great War.
Both get lots of visitors, but many Americans seem unaware that they are there!
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http://www.madingleyamericancemetery.info