Places of Remembrance
Countless sites in the U.S. and other countries commemorate the courageous actions of the U.S. military.
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Since the United States’ founding in 1776, more than 1 million Americans have fought and died for freedom in conflicts around the world. All Americans recognize those sacrifices each year on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day.
U.S. service members have fought in many battles overseas, and not all who died could be brought home.
The U.S. government has dedicated monuments to those missing in action and cemeteries for fallen soldiers whose families elected to have them buried abroad, in many cases close to the battles where they fell.
There are 171 national military cemeteries in the United States and 27 maintained by a White House-appointed commission in 11 other countries. Explore the legacy of American military service through seven of the sites that pay tribute to Americans who sacrificed their lives for their country.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery
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Located in Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery — the final resting place for over 420,000 service members who served their country and for their eligible dependents — is one of the largest cemeteries in the United States.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an iconic memorial, is here. The tomb was added after World War I, when the unidentified remains of several American service members were returned to the United States.
The site symbolizes dignity for all service members who are missing in action or believed dead but whose remains have not been identified. It has been continually guarded by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment since 1948.
Guadalcanal Memorial
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The World War II Guadalcanal Memorial honors the 1,600 American service members who died during an offensive comprising multiple major battles fought at Guadalcanal from August 1942 to February 1943.
The offensive eventually led to an Allied victory that liberated the Solomon Islands from Japanese occupation. It was a long, often demoralizing fight, but Americans and their Allies fought bravely to further advance in the Pacific theater.
Dedicated in 1992, the memorial has four walls that point to the four directions of the battles.
Korean War Monument at Busan
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The U.S. Korean War Monument at Busan was dedicated in 2013 inside the cemetery at Busan, which was established by the United Nations Command in 1951. Some 2,300 service members from 11 UN member countries are laid to rest in this cemetery, including 36 U.S. service members.
The monument, maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, honors all U.S. service members who fought in the conflict, which occurred from 1950-1953 and ended with an armistice.
The United States contributed the greatest number of troops to the Korean War: 1.7 million, 33,739 of whom died in battle.
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
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The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is dedicated to the U.S. service members who fought on D-Day (June 6, 1944), when Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied northern France by air, sea, and land.
The site overlooks Omaha Beach, an area that witnessed the greatest casualties of five landing sites along the coast.
This is the final resting place for 9,389 Americans who fought at all five landing sites and is the most visited of the cemeteries managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The site also features a memorial to the 1,557 U.S. soldiers who were missing in action.
A filming location for the movie Saving Private Ryan, the cemetery honors 45 pairs of brothers who died during the offensive. The brothers are now laid to rest next to each other.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
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Just outside San Diego, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is the final resting place for 120,000 American service members who died in conflicts as early as 1846.
The cemetery, established in 1882, is maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean and borders a national park.
There are several war memorials and monuments among the tombstones, including one that honors the Navy ship USS Wasp (CV-7), which was lost during the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II.
North Africa American Cemetery
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The North Africa American Cemetery is located amid an oasis of trees and fountains outside of Carthage, Tunisia. Dedicated in 1960, it is the only American cemetery in this region.
Among those buried here are the 2,841 fallen Americans lost during a three-year World War II campaign in the region. The site also honors 3,724 U.S. missing-in-action service members who fought in the North Africa battles that facilitated the liberation of Italy and southern France in 1943.
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
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Dedicated in 1937, the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial is the largest American military cemetery in Europe, covering 130 acres in rural France.
The site honors fallen U.S. and Allied service members from the 47-day offensive that ended World War I. These heroes were involved in the largest military action in U.S. history — 1.2 million American soldiers, sailors and Marines fought bravely.
More than 14,200 U.S. service members are interred in the cemetery — more than any other site outside the United States.
Thank You for Taking This Journey
Across the world, these seven sites are among the scores that preserve the memory of America’s fallen heroes.
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Featured cemeteries and memorials:
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia, USA)
- Guadalcanal American Memorial (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands)
- Korean War Monument at Busan (Busan, South Korea)
- Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (Normandy, France)
- Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (California, USA)
- North Africa American Cemetery (Carthage, Tunisia)
- Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery (France)
Want to learn more about how Americans honor Memorial Day each year? Follow along on ShareAmerica and the State Department’s X account.
Writer: Noelani Kirschner
Photo editor: Serkan Gurbuz
Copy editor: Kathleen Hendrix
Digital storyteller: Pierce McManus
May 2025