Memorial Day Ceremony Held in Luxembourg
On May 23, U.S. Embassy Luxembourg, together with the American Battle Monuments Commission, held the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, commemorating the men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service.
“I am grateful to mark Memorial Day in Luxembourg, a country that preserves with great care and respect the memory of American soldiers who played a vital role in the liberation of Europe during both World Wars. Today, we honor the sacrifice our service members have made in defense of our freedom and underscore the importance of remembering them. This year, a student joined the official delegation to the ceremony. This marks the beginning of what I hope will become a lasting tradition, ensuring that the responsibility of remembrance is carried forward by the next generation,” said Stacey Feinberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.
The ceremony commenced with the presenting of the colors and a flyover by the 37th Airlift Squadron of the 86th Airlift Wing based at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany. Remarks were made by the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, Her Excellency Ms. Stacey Feinberg, His Excellency Mr. Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies, His Excellency Mr. Serge Wilmes, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and Minister for the Civil Service, and Lieutenant General William Taylor, United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee. This year, a Luxembourg student joined the official delegation to the ceremony and recited a poem “The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak” by Archibald MacLeish.
The official party then took part in a wreath laying ceremony, which included wreaths presented for His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, the United States of America, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, the Government of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Council of State, the City of Luxembourg, the Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces, and the American Battle Monuments Commission.
The Ceremony concluded with a gun salute by the 86th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force, Taps, and the national anthems performed by the bands of the Luxembourg Army and U.S. Air Forces in Europe, ending with the benediction from Chaplain Capt. Jamie Osborne, and the retiring of the colors.
PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/gp/usembassyluxembourg/cL8Hqqdb41
BACKGROUND
Official Party:
The official party included Her Excellency Ms. Stacey Feinberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, Her Excellency Ms. Sasha Baillie, Marshal of the Royal Court for His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, His Excellency Mr. Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies, His Excellency Mr. Serge Wilmes, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and Minister for the Civil Service, The Honorable Mr. Marc Thewes, President of the Council of State, Mr. Maurice Bauer, First Alderman of the City of Luxembourg, Lieutenant General William Taylor, United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, Colonel Pascal Ballinger, Vice Chief of Defense of the Luxembourg Armed Forces, Colonel Clifford W. Anderson, United States Air Force, Chief of the United States Military Group for Belgium, Luxembourg, EU and NATO, Chaplain Captain Jamie Osborne, USAFEUR and Mr. Mikhail Lubenets, Luxembourg student representative.
About Memorial Day:
Memorial Day, observed in the United States on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began following the U.S. Civil War as a remembrance of the fallen from that conflict and was formally recognized in 1868. After World War I, the day came to honor all those who had died in military service and became known as Memorial Day. In 1971, the U.S. Congress established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May. Many Americans observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades to remember and show gratitude for those who died in the service of their country.
For more information, journalists are welcome to contact the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg at LuxembourgPublicAffairs@state.gov