At the 27-acre North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Tunisia rest 2,841 of our military dead, their headstones set in straight lines subdivided into nine rectangular plots by wide paths, with decorative pools at their intersections. Along the south-east edge of the burial area, bordering the tree-lined terrace leading to the memorial is the Wall of the Missing. On this wall 3,724 names are engraved. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Most honoured here lost their lives in World War II in military activities ranging from North Africa to the Persian Gulf.
The chapel and the memorial court, which contain large maps in mosaic and ceramic depicting the operations and supply activities of American forces across Africa to the Persian Gulf, were designed to harmonize with local architecture. The chapel interior is decorated with polished marble, flags and sculpture.
North Africa American Cemetery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cemetery is closed on weekends, and U.S. and Tunisian holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is usually on duty in the Visitor Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
The initial cache contains two coins, one from Denmark and one from Hungary with the wish to bring them home! Stealth on weekdays absolutely required as the security guard usually sits in front of the entrance watching the cache. ;-)
Please bring your own pen.