The American Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 17,000 American military dead from World War II and 517 Filipinos who served with U.S. forces. The burial ground occupies 152 acres (61.5 hectares) in Fort Bonifacio, once the site of an American military base.
The graves are divided into 11 burial plots with rows of white marble crosses radiating from the central Memorial. Walk through the plots to view the crosses. Most are engraved with the name of the dead soldier, although some bear no name. These are the unidentified soldiers who died during battle. Among the dead are 20 sets of brothers and 29 Medal of Honor recipients, America’s highest military honor.
Go to the Memorial. It consists of a central tower containing a small chapel. See the stone relief above the chapel door that depicts St. George battling with a dragon. Above them are representations of the ideals he fought for including Liberty, Justice and Country. Enter the chapel and view the large blue glass mosaic of a Madonna holding a bouquet of flowers.
Amble along the two curved walkways that flank the Memorial and view the Wall of Missing where engraved tablets honor more than 36,000 soldiers missing in action. Study the 10-feet (3-meter) high maps in the four map rooms. They portray key land and sea campaigns in the Pacific region during the war.
Drop in on the Visitors’ Building. A member of staff is always on duty to answer questions. During your visit to the cemetery you will hear chimes ring out from the tower to honor the fallen.
The American Cemetery is located approximately six miles (ten kilometers) southeast of the center of Manila. The easiest way to arrive is by taxi or car. There are free parking spaces in the Visitors’ Building Plaza and to the rear of the Memorial.
The cemetery is open daily except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. You will need to bring some form of personal identification with you, as these are checked for security. Admission is free.
