Remembering The Brave At The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

The deafening din of war may long be gone, replaced by a calm stillness on the hallowed grounds of the former Fort McKinley. The pristine and lush greens at The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial remains a sanctuary of serenity in stark contrast with the modern urban development of Bonifacio Global City. And a fitting monument for remembrance...

As Memorial Day is celebrated half a world away, the memories of countless young men are remembered and honored at The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in an enduring tribute to the fallen that we may enjoy the liberties as free men among nations. 

Maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, all 152 acres of the expansive memorial stands as a proud reminder of a tumultuous and violent past and to the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As we enjoy the freedom and liberties of today, it's just right and proper to pause and reflect on the men who fought bravely for that same freedom.

High above on a gently rising slope is the memorial with its prominent circular design surrounded by verdant greens.

Inside the memorial, the fading afternoon light shines on the countless marble pillars inscribed with the names of the fallen, including the Philippine Scouts who fought alongside the American forces during the dark early days of World War Two back in 1941 all the way to the eventual Liberation in 1945.

Each massive pillar is inscribed with the names of enlisted men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for one last and heroic roll call. And there's quite a number of these massive marble pillars forming the memorial in an elegant circular layout. With over 17,206 graves at the memorial, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is said to be the largest of its kind reflecting the enormity and scale of the military engagements in the Pacific theater of operations.

The official State Seals of all fifty states are carved along the circular path, representing many of the brave and fallen listed at the The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Inside, ornate mosaics detail every major military campaign in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945, twenty-five in all, from Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal, The Marianas and the eventual promised return to the Philippines by General Douglas MacArthur to China, India, Burma, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The detailed mosaics feature timelines and tactical movements of each significant battle taking you back in time.

The Battle of Midway, which many say is the crucial turning point during the Pacific campaign, finally put a stop to further advances by the Japanese forces detailed in an intricate mosaic. Against all odds, the vastly superior Japanese naval armada was dealt a decisive blow by the smaller American naval fleet. Yet both fleets did not even fire one shell at each other. The battle was fought by carrier-borne aircraft over large distances with dive bombers and torpedo bombers supported by fighter escorts from both sides. The battle also marked the emergence of the modern aircraft carrier replacing the traditional battleship as the fleet's capital ship.

On another mosaic, General MacArthur's return to the Philippines is detailed in a series of northward movements to the capital, marked with significant battles from the initial landings on Leyte and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, considered as the largest naval engagement to this day, all the way to the entry of the First Cavalry Division in Manila. But the long road to victory has a price...

The grounds of The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial are marked with white headstones arranged in perfect symmetry...

...and anywhere you look, the rows remain perfectly linear and aligned from any perspective. And just like a final call to assembly, the headstones form the final formation.

The peace that we enjoy and cherish today was paid in full by a valiant generation many years back, and The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is a fitting reminder of that sacrifice. The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 and January 1.

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila.

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