Mardasson Memorial



The Mardasson Memorial is located near Bastogne, a municipality in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. It honours the memory of the 76,890 American soldiers who were wounded or killed during the Battle of the Bulge.

While first steps towards the memorial were undertaken on July 4, 1946, by presenting some earth from the site to U.S. President Harry Truman, the monument was dedicated on July 16, 1950. Architect Georges Dedoyard designed the complex as a pentagram with a height of 12 m and a side length of 31 m, centered by a circular atrium with a diameter of 20 m. While the inner walls are covered with ten paintings from the battle, the outer crown is engraved with the names of the contemporary 48 U.S. States, and the insignia of most participating battalions are shown on the walls. Below the structure, a crypt with three altars – one each for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish services – was carved, and decorated with mosaics by French artist Fernand Léger. The Latin inscription on the memorial stone:
 * LIBERATORIBVS
 * AMERICANIS
 * POPVLVS BELGICVS
 * MEMOR
 * IV.VII.MCMXLVI.

translates to "The Belgian people remember their American liberators – 4th July 1946."

Next to the memorial is the Bastogne Historical Centre, which houses World War II memorabilia and shows a film of footage shot during the battle.