Prime Minister Alexander De Croo laid a wreath at the Arlington military cemetery in the United States on Friday, honouring both the Unknown Soldier and the Ardennes Offensive monument.
Joined by hundreds of attendants, the Prime Minister initially participated in changing of the guard at the Unknown Soldier tomb. He then laid a wreath representing the Belgian flag colours under a gleaming sun, together with the Belgian ambassador.
The delegation also went to the Ardennes Battle memorial, or the 'Battle of the Bulge' as known in the US. This was the largest, bloodiest battle the US waged on European soil during the Second World War. In the six-week conflict, 19,000 American soldiers were killed with almost 60,000 injured.
Over 400,000 individuals, primarily military personnel and veterans, are buried in the 250-hectare Arlington national cemetery. Families of military personnel also lay here, along with notable figures such as presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The cemetery hosts 25 to 30 burials daily.
Paying tribute to the fallen heroes at @ArlingtonNatl
A debt of gratitude for the heroes who fought for the liberation of Europe. We remember the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave their lives bound by a common commitment to protect our freedom. pic.twitter.com/9bSvOnbKWn — Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) May 31, 2024
The Prime Minister emphasised the site's significance in the current global context. "We are a free continent in Europe because the US liberated us twice. In today's context, we need strong partnerships more than ever," he said.
De Croo had also discussed this on Friday afternoon (local time) with the American president Joe Biden who invited him to the White House.
