Information
Landmark: Mardasson MemorialCity: Bastogne
Country: Belgium
Continent: Europe
Mardasson Memorial, Bastogne, Belgium, Europe
Overview
The Mardasson Memorial, a striking stone star, stands just outside the town of Bastogne, Belgium.It honors the American soldiers who fought and fell in the snow and smoke of the Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944–January 25, 1945), one of World War II’s most pivotal clashes.The memorial stands just outside Bastogne in Walloon Brabant, Belgium, on the town’s southern edge along the N4 highway, where traffic hums past its stone walls.Tucked into a quiet patch of trees, the site is easy for visitors to reach.The Mardasson Memorial honors the American soldiers who fought in the bitter winter of 1944–45 during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium’s Ardennes.The battle became a turning point in the Allies’ fight against Nazi Germany in World War II.In Bastogne, the 101st Airborne Division and other American troops held their ground for more than a week, enduring a relentless German siege and bitter cold that froze breath in the air.Their stand to protect the town came to embody courage and grit.The Mardasson Memorial, designed by Belgian architect Georges Dedoyard and unveiled on July 16, 1950, takes the shape of a five-pointed star, each point honoring one of the five U. S. Army divisions that fought in the battle.The monument’s star shape echoes the American flag and honors the U. S. military’s role in the battle.Rising about 40 feet high and stretching 150 feet across, it commands the open space around it.Along its walls, visitors can trace the engraved names of the American divisions that fought here, pausing at plaques that offer stark, weathered accounts of the battle.The walls bear the carved names of soldiers who fell in the battle, while inside, mosaics and sculptures bring its scenes to life-a line of tanks here, a soldier’s face there-drawing visitors closer to the story of World War II.Beneath it all lies the crypt, a solemn chamber with a plaque honoring the major American divisions that fought.The walls bear the names of those who fell in the battle, each letter carved deep into the stone.At the monument’s summit, viewing platforms open onto sweeping views of the Ardennes, with the rooftops of Bastogne and the old battlefield spread out below.It gives visitors a deeper sense of the battlefield’s landscape-the rolling hills, the cold wind that once cut across it-and the history behind it.The Mardasson Memorial honors American soldiers and stands as a powerful symbol of the united fight against Nazi Germany.It honors the sacrifice, courage, and pain of everyone who fought and fell in the battle, and it carries special meaning for the people of Bastogne, who once shook under the roar of German shells yet refused to yield.The town’s resilience is woven into its story, and you can visit the Mardasson Memorial any day of the year.You can drive there with ease, and there’s parking just a short walk away.The Bastogne War Museum, set near the Mardasson Memorial, brings the Battle of the Bulge to life with maps, photos, and vivid stories.Many visitors pair a walk through the museum with time at the memorial to better grasp the story of the battle.Bronze plaques on the monument display text in English, French, and Dutch, so almost anyone can read them.Each December, the Mardasson Memorial becomes the heart of solemn ceremonies honoring the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.During these events, the memorial fills with veterans, grieving families, and visiting dignitaries.The Mardasson Memorial towers above them, a steadfast reminder of the courage and loss borne in the Battle of the Bulge.It pays tribute to the courage of American soldiers, the grit of Bastogne’s people who endured snow and shellfire, and the crucial part this battle played in securing the Allies’ victory in World War II.The memorial invites quiet reflection, drawing visitors from across the globe who come to honor the fallen and uncover the stories of the bitter winter battles that raged through the Ardennes in 1944 and 1945.
