These Foreign Countries Have American War Memorials and Cemeteries

Serving one’s country in the military is a profound honor. United States soldiers have fought in battles across the globe and some fallen soldiers from World War I, World War II and other battles have been laid to rest in…

Published May 17, 2024, 8:43pm ET · 2 min read

An overview of the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery, in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (Photo by Warrick Page/ABMC) © An overview of the Luxembourg American Cemetery, in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (CC0 1.0) by https://www.flickr.com/photos/192161580@N03/51387963386/ABMC

Serving one’s country in the military is a profound honor. United States soldiers have fought in battles across the globe and some fallen soldiers from World War I, World War II and other battles have been laid to rest in cemeteries abroad. Many foreign countries have honored the sacrifices of American soldiers with the establishment of cemeteries and war memorials at battle sites and other locations.

In identifying some of the countries that have U.S. war memorials and cemetaries, 24/7 Wall St. examined the American Battle Monuments Commission’s catalog of cemeteries and monuments located in foreign countries. Information regarding notable monuments or cemetaries, including their earliest dedication and the wars they were dedicated to, was also obtained from the ABMC. Established in 1923, the ABMC’s mission is to maintain and operate U.S. military cemeteries and monuments overseas.

This list includes renowned war memorials that pay tribute to some of the most significant battles of the past century. The monuments commemorating D-Day in France and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, both from World War II, are featured on the list, among others.

Many of the countries listed here as the final resting place for American soldiers are located in Europe. Among the non-European nations on the list is the Philippines, where monuments and memorials honor events spanning from the Philippine-American War in the early 20th century to World War II.

Japan is excluded from the list for significant reasons. Even though the final stages of WWII took place in the Pacific Theater against Japan, the majority of the those battles were amphibious or naval engagements, mainly on islands in the region. The anticipated land invasion of Japan became pointless after the country’s unconditional surrender in the wake of the U.S. use of nuclear bombs. Those who lost their lives in the Pacific Theater are honored in monuments, cemeteries and memorials in the Phillippines, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the United States Outlying Islands.

These are some U.S. war memorials and cemeteries located in other countries:

19. Cuba

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • The Santiago Surrender Tree Memorial is located in Santiago, Cuba at the site where Spanish forces surrendered to U.S. forces on July 17, 1898. The memorial was dedicated in 1958 and commemorates the Spanish-American War.

18. Gibraltar

Harry Mitchell/Wikimedia Commons

17. Morocco

Marrakesh, Morocco: Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Public Domain

16. New Zealand

Ballofstring/Wikimedia Commons

15. Northern Mariana Islands

Public Domain

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Chris Lange

Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.

His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.

When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.

All articles →