#Monument
Mardasson Memorial
The Mardasson Memorial commemorates the Ardennes Counteroffensive which happened from 16 December 1944 to 16 January 1945, during which many people, soldiers and civilians, lost their lives. The monument keeps the memory alive of the 76,890 American soldiers who gave their life or were injured during the battle.
The Mardasson Memorial was designed by the Belgian architect Georges Dedoyard and inaugurated in 1950 in the presence of Brigadier-General Anthony McAuliffe to bear witness to Belgium’s gratitude to the American soldiers who risked or lost their lives on Belgian soil.
The monument is star-shaped, representing the American Army symbol and a reference to the stars of the flag of the United States. The Memorial is also endowed with a crypt, decorated with a mosaic by the French artist Fernand Leger. Engraved in the monument are the names of the then 48 American states, and in the pillars the history of the Ardennes Counteroffensive and the names of the key American units.
A walkway situated at the summit offers the visitor a panoramic view of the defensive positions held during the siege of the town, as well as of the Bastogne War Museum situated next to the memorial.
In 2020, the management of the memorial was transferred to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) by the Belgian state.