Luxembourg-Hamm

The city of Hamm is located a short drive across the border from France in Luxembourg. It is worth a detour to visit the American Cemetery where over 5,000 American soldiers are buried near the village of Hamm (about 4 kilometers east of Luxembourg City). It is here that General George Patton, the strong-willed, brilliant military genius who liberated Lorraine is buried. Patton fought in both World War I and World War II and had been wounded three times. However, it was not a battle, but rather a staff car accident that led to the death of this tough general, affectionately called by his men “Old Blood and Guts.” Instead of returning home to lie at rest in Arlington Cemetery along with other famous military heroes, he is buried, just as he requested, amongst his soldiers. Thousands of visitors come each year to visit the cemetery and pay their tribute by decorating the graves with wreathes and flowers. The beautiful, 43-acre, wooded site was donated by the people of Luxembourg.