9 American Battle Monuments Commission sites to participate in European Heritage Days 2026

From Sept. 12-27, nine American Battle Monuments Commission sites in Belgium, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will open their doors as part of European Heritage Days, an annual initiative that encourages the public to discover and engage with cultural and historical heritage.

This year's theme, "Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine," highlights the importance of protecting places, stories, and traditions that connect present and future generations to the past. Across participating American Battle Monuments Commission sites, visitors will be invited to explore how remembrance is preserved through memorial landscapes, historic architecture, conservation efforts, educational programs, and the personal stories of the American service members commemorated overseas.

"European Heritage Days provide an opportunity to connect visitors with the people and stories behind the sites we maintain," said Karen Wurzburger, chief of Visitor Services and Interpretation at the American Battle Monuments Commission. "These programs help visitors better understand the sacrifices made by American service members and the importance of preserving their legacy for future generations."

Participating sites this year include Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Ardennes American Cemetery, Brookwood American Cemetery, Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery, Lorraine American Cemetery, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Netherlands American Cemetery, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, and Suresnes American Cemetery.

• Aisne-Marne American Cemetery - A face, a story, a memory preserved - Sept. 19-20, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CET

Aisne-Marne American Cemetery preserves more than headstones; through each face and each story, a memory is kept alive. Visitors will be invited to select the portrait of a service member buried at the cemetery and discover the story behind the face. ABMC staff will share information in English or French about the individual's life and military service at the corresponding gravesite. The activity highlights how memory is preserved through the transmission of personal stories and human connections.

No registration required. More information at [email protected] or 03 23 70 70 90.

• Ardennes American Cemetery - Why is a military cemetery located far from the battlefield so important to preserving memory? - Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. CET

This special guided visit in French, which will be translated into Belgian French Sign Language, will examine the efforts made to identify service members and preserve the stories of those whose identities remain unknown. The program will place emphasis on the unknowns memorialized at Ardennes American Cemetery and the continuing commitment to remembrance.

Thirty participants per tour maximum. Registration required at [email protected].

Picture of the chapel at Ardennes American Cemetery with the statue of the eagle. Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission / Robert Uth.

• Brookwood American Cemetery - Everyday histories: Exploring the daily lives of people through the ages - Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. BST

Who were the service members commemorated at Brookwood American Cemetery before they went to war? The farmer, the poet, the chemist… This joint open day event with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission explores the everyday lives of service members before military service and how their personal experiences shaped who they became. Through a series of rotating guided tours, roving interpretation, children's activities, and archival materials in English, visitors will discover the stories of individuals commemorated at Brookwood American Cemetery and gain a deeper understanding of the lives they led both before and during wartime.

No registration required. More information at [email protected].

Picture of Brookwood American Cemetery with some headstones in the foreground and the chapel in the background. Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission.

• Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery - Faces of Lafayette Escadrille - Sept. 18-20, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CET

This exhibit revives the memory of the Lafayette Escadrille aviators by bringing visitors face to face with the men commemorated in the memorial crypt. Visitors will discover historic portraits of the Lafayette Escadrille aviators commemorated within the memorial crypt through a self-guided exhibition. By placing faces alongside names, the event offers a more personal understanding of the volunteers who chose to serve before the United States entered the First World War. Staff members remain available throughout the day for questions and interpretation in English and French.

No registration required. Information at [email protected].

Picture of Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery with the two flags in front of it. Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission.

• Lorraine American Cemetery - Duty of remembrance: Responsibility, memory, and transmission at Lorraine American Cemetery - Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. CET

The Lorraine American Cemetery commemorates with dignity and passes on the memory of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for freedom. Through interactive guided tours in French, visitors will explore how Lorraine American Cemetery preserves the memory of the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. The tours will examine the responsibility of remembrance, and the role memorial sites play in transmitting history to future generations.

Thirty participants per tour maximum. Registration required at [email protected].

Picture of Lorraine American Cemetery. Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission/ Robert Uth.

• Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery - Fighters of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive - Sept. 19-20 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CET

Short presentations in French inside the visitor center will introduce visitors to selected stories from the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. These talks will focus on the courage, sacrifice, and experiences of American service members who participated in one of the largest military operations involving U.S. forces during the First World War. Staff members are available to answer questions in English or French.

No registration required. Meeting point at the visitor center's entrance. More information at [email protected] or 03 29 85 14 18.

• Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery - Preserving Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery - Sept. 19-20 at 2:30 p.m. CET

This visit focuses on remembering sacrifice by preserving the future of Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery through its biodiversity and historical buildings. Visitors will learn how the cemetery's historic landscape, architecture, and biodiversity are maintained and protected. Using historical photographs, original plans, and on-site interpretation, staff will explain in French the daily work required to preserve one of Europe's most significant American military cemeteries. Staff members are available to answer questions in English or French.

Walking shoes recommended. Meeting point at the central fountain. More information at [email protected] or 03 29 85 14 18.

Picture of Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery with some headstones in the foreground and the chapel in the background. Credit: American Battle American Cemetery.

• Netherlands American Cemetery - Guardians of memory - Sept. 19-20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. CET

Netherlands American Cemetery is a living testament of the care, maintenance, and preservation of American military heritage in the Netherlands. Through guided tours in Dutch or English, visitors will learn about the care and stewardship required to ensure future generations understand the sacrifices commemorated at the site.

Registration required via email at [email protected].

Picture of Netherlands American Cemetery with some headstones and the chapel. Credits: American Battle Monuments Commission /Robert Uth

• Sicily-Rome American Cemetery - Heritage at risk: Revive, resist, reimagine - Sept. 26-27, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CET

From ceremonies to guided visits and daily operations, learn how memory is preserved at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Through a static exhibition and discussions with staff members in English or Italian, visitors will learn how memory is preserved through commemorative ceremonies, educational programs, and the daily operations that sustain the cemetery as a place of remembrance.

No registration required. More information at [email protected].

Picture of Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Credits: American Battle Monuments Commission/Don Savage

• Suresnes American Cemetery - Faces of Suresnes - Sept. 18-20, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. CET

Reviving the memory of those commemorated at Suresnes American Cemetery, this exhibition reconnects visitors with the faces behind the names. Historic photographs will be displayed alongside selected graves and/or names on the Wall of the Missing to reconnect visitors with the individuals commemorated at the site. The exhibition will enable visitors to look beyond the names inscribed on headstones and discover the personal stories behind them. Staff members are available to answer questions in English or French.

No registration required. More information at [email protected].

Picture of Suresnes American Cemetery with its chapel. Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission/ Robert Uth

Together, these programs demonstrate that heritage extends far beyond monuments and memorials. Through personal stories, educational interpretation, conservation efforts, and community engagement, participating ABMC sites continue to preserve and share the legacy of the American service members who served and sacrificed far from home.

The American Battle Monuments Commission sites are a constant reminder of Gen. John J. Pershing's promise that, "time will not dim the glory of their deeds."