American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates 80th anniversary of Liberation of Bruyères

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press release

American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates

80^thanniversary of Liberation of Bruyères

ABMC honored the memory of Japanese American service members

who fought in the Vosges area

ARLINGTON, Virginia (Oct. 19, 2024) - TheAmerican Battle Monuments Commissionhosted a ceremony at Epinal American Cemeteryin Dinozé, France, today to commemorate the service members who liberated Bruyères80 years ago, including the Japanese American (Nisei) service members who fought in the Vosges area and are honored there.  

"This ceremony is significant," said ABMC Secretary Charles K. Djou. "It recognizes the 80^thanniversary of the Liberation of the town of Bruyères. It is a reminder to all of us of what America has done. And my family has a connection to this place as I am from the State of Hawaii, as my wife has Japanese origins."

Approximately 400 guests-including family members of Nisei service members, U.S. and ABMC officials as well as the local community-gathered at Epinal American Cemetery for the event. The ceremony included the national anthems, a wreath laying, taps, as well as remarks from dignitaries.   

Ceremony remarks were provided by Djou, Denis Masy, mayor of Bruyères, Anne Carli, general secretary of Vosges Prefecture and Sous-Préfèteof the Arrondissement of Epinal and Ms. Yvonne Gonzales, Consul general of the U.S. in Strasbourg.

At the conclusion of the remarks, associations placed wreaths alongside ABMC and official representatives from the United States and France. 

For more than 100 years, the ABMC has been committed to its mission: honoring the service, achievements and sacrifices of the U.S. service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during American conflicts abroad, including the ones who fought near Epinal American Cemetery.  

For more information about ABMC, please visit our website abmc.govor our social media platforms: Facebook, X, Instagramand LinkedIn. 

Press contact:

Hélène Chaulin (France)

[email protected]

+33 1 40 75 27 55

About American Battle Monuments Commission: 

The American Battle Monuments Commission operates and maintains 26 cemeteries and 31 federal memorials, monuments and commemorative plaques in 17 countries throughout the world, including the United States. The three memorials in the United States are: the Honolulu Memorial located within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu; the West Coast Memorial located within the Presidio National Park in San Francisco; and the East Coast Memorial located within Battery Park in New York City. Since March 4, 1923, the ABMC's sacred mission remains to honor the service, achievements, and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at our sites. For more information about the ABMC, visit abmc.gov.

About Epinal American Cemetery:

Epinal American Cemetery (abmc.gov)

Video and Drone Footage: Epinal American Cemetery | Flickr

Credits: Courtesy of American Battle Monuments Commission