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Just outside the town of St. Avold, France, near the border of Germany, is Lorraine American
Cemetery.
It is the largest American World War II military cemetery in Europe.
Resting here are nearly 10,500 American men and women.
A majority of them died crossing the Moselle River and during the advance across Lorraine
into Germany in 1945.
Four are Medal of Honor recipients.
The memorial tower is made of limestone and rises 67 feet above the ground. On its face
is a 26-foot carving of St. Avold blessing the war dead.
Inside is a chapel and map room bathed in sunlight.
The sculpture group above the altar represents the eternal struggle for freedom.
Large maps made with colored ceramic portray military operations in Western Europe.
Flanking the memorial building are walls engraved with names of the missing in action.
These war dead came from every U.S. state and territory, and represent many different
races and creeds...
...all lost their lives in the cause of liberty.