World War II, the deadliest conflict in the human history. This has left the unforgettable painful memories for the witnesses of the war. When I was in primary school, I watched this award-winning movie called "Saving Private Ryan" by Steven Spielberg which talks about WWII in Europe.
Credit to Google Image
Other than the bloody battlefields, one of the most remarkable scenes to me was the moment when Private Ryan walking through countless of white headstones before recalling the moments back in WWII. Back then, I did not know whether such place exists to have so many white headstones for movie filming.
After many years, I did not expect that I would actually visit the similar memorial like what it was in the movie. Located in Metro Manila, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is the last resting place for the fallen heroes that were involved in the conflict of Pacific, when the Japanese invaded the region.
This cemetery and memorial is not far from the famous Greenbelt shopping mall in Makati. I took jeepney to Greenbelt and transit to the memorial in a taxi, which cost me not more than 50 Pesos for one-way. Walking towards the memorial, the first thing welcoming visitor is the speed limit sign. Cars can be driven here by adhering the speed limit. This cemetery is open daily from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1.
The memorial consists of a chapel and two hemispherical structure which embraces the Memorial Court. American flags were clearly seen from afar, and this memorial is fully administrated by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
What came into my eyes were thousands of white headstones across the field. There are more than 17,000 of graves, which is the largest cemetery for the U.S personnel killed in the World War II. Twenty-nine Medal of Honor recipients are buried or memorialized on the Wall of Missing. Buried along are the 20 sets of brothers who lost their lives in the WWII as well.
Sitting in the hemispherical structure are the limestone piers, the Wall of Missing have more than 36,000 names carved on it. The tablets honor the personnel missing in action (MIA), who gave their lives in the service for their country.
On the Wall of Missing, the names of the MIA personnel together with their ranks, origins and job roles during the war, were crafted on the Trani limestone. For those were recovered and identified later on, would have rosettes on their names on the limestone.
Seals of American states are meticulously carved on the floor within the building of Wall of Missing.
The 10-feet high wall of mosaic maps describe the achievements of the American forces in the Pacific, and there are a total of 25 of the maps within the hemispherical structure.
Lastly, the chapel with sculptures of St. George, the American warrior fighting the dragon. Above the sculpture are the ideals for which he fought: Liberty, Justice, Country and Columbia. The children sculpture is there as well to represent the future that St. George was fighting for.
Visiting this place let me understand more about the history of the World War II in the Pacific, as the visitor can get the booklet from the Visitor Building at the entrance. The booklet and brochure provide the crucial timeline of the incidents happened during the WWII which involves American troops in the Pacific. Perhaps most of the tourists would have skip this place in their travel itinerary, but to me, this was a worthwhile visit!
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