Meuse-Argonne American Memorial

The Meuse-Argonne American Memorial is a special building that remembers the brave work of soldiers during a big war called World War I. It stands near a place called Montfaucon in France and was built by the United States Government. This memorial is the largest one for American soldiers in all of Europe.

It was finished and shown to everyone on August 1, 1937. A man named John Russell Pope designed it, and it looks like a very tall column made of strong stone called granite. On top of it is a statue that stands for liberty. The whole structure reaches up 71 metres (233 feet) above the hill, where old ruins from the war can still be seen.

The memorial honors the soldiers of the American First Army who fought in a big battle called the Meuse-Argonne offensive from September 26 to November 11, 1918. It also pays respect to the soldiers of France who fought bravely on that part of the battlefield.

Description

The Meuse-Argonne American Memorial is a tall granite column with a statue of liberty on top. It was built near an old village that was destroyed during World War I. Walls inside the memorial tell the story of a big battle, and it honors the soldiers who served there. You can climb 234 stairs to reach a platform with a great view of the battlefield.

Close by, in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, there is a quiet chapel for American troops who lost their lives in the war. Made of light stone in a Romanesque style, it sits on a hill above the graves. Inside, you will find mosaics, stained glass windows, and an altar that remembers the soldiers who fell and the troops whose names are listed on the walls. The chapel stands for peace, faith, and the strong bond between France and the United States. It reminds visitors of the cost of war and the importance of sacrifice for one's country.

Inauguration

The memorial was opened on August 1, 1937. The President of France, Albert Lebrun, attended the ceremony. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States at the time, spoke to everyone from Washington, D.C. using a radio address.