Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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Visit the American Cemetery in Taguig City

Manila American Cemetery, Terrace, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The Tablets of Missing, with 36,286 names of soldiers missing in action

Manila American Cemetery, View over headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog
Manila American Cemetery, View over headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

There are 3660 headstones here

Manila American Cemetery, View over headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

​The American cemetery is beautifully located

The cemetery is beautifully located with impressive views over the lowlands to Laguna de Bay and towards the distant mountains. The area is so quiet and you can wander around and contemplate over the soldiers who lost their lives in the World War II. When you see all the headstones and the names it really calls for reflection over the madness of war.

​Overview

Manila American Cemetery, Headstones 2, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of the US military dead of World War II, a total of 17,191, most of whom lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. Among them are 570 Philippine Nationals who were serving alongside with the US Forces.

​​The chapel

The chapel, a white masonry building enriched with sculpture and mosaic, stands near the center of the cemetery. In front of it on a wide terrace are two large hemicycles. Twenty-five mosaic maps recall the achievements of the American armed forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Trani limestone piers within the hemicycles, are inscribed the Tablets of the Missing containing 36,286 names.
Manila American Cemetery, Terrace, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

​The chapel

Manila American Cemetery, The Entrance, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

View over the entrance head north

Manila American Cemetery, Headstones and a big tree, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The remains of about 61 percent have been returned to the US at the request of the next of kin

Manila American Cemetery, Headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The American cemetery is organized and minimalistic

Compared to the Manila Chinese Cemetery which was like a maze of different styles and colors this cemetery is strictly organized and minimalistic with the headstones in perfect order. They are aligned in 11 plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.
Manila American Cemetery, I am viewing all the headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

When you are overlooking 3660 headstones it really calls for reflection over the madness of war...

Manila American Cemetery, Me and the walls with the missing names, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Behind me, it's one of these two massive hemicycles with the Tablets of Missing

Manila American Cemetery, The wall with the names of missing soldiers, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Among these 36,286 names, there were two seamen with the name Henry Lord, same family name as me. And let's not forget the 3762 Philippine Nationals whose remains were never recovered are also inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

Manila American Cemetery, Workers maintaining the cemetery, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The maintenance of the cemetery is meticulous

Manila American Cemetery, Headstones, Manila, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

In the background you see a residential complex at McKinley Pkwy towards Makati

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