The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is the largest cemetery for American servicemen in the world. Located just outside Manila, in Philippines, it is the final resting place for 17,206 Americans who perished during World War II. The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial also serve as a reminder of the gallantry and sacrifice made by these brave men and women. Visitors to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial can pay their respects to those who gave their lives for freedom and learn more about the history of World War II.
The Manila American Cemetery is located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila, within the former Fort William McKinley’s boundaries. From Manila, the easiest route is via EDSA to McKinley Road, then to McKinley Parkway in Bonifacio Global City. The
Manila American Cemetery is open every day from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial was dedicated on July 26, 1948, by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The memorial chapel, designed in the classical style with a traditional pediment and Doric columns, was built by the Americans as a tribute to their comrades who died in the Philippines during World War II.
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial covers 152 acres (62 hectares) and contains the remains of 17,206 American military dead, most of whom lost their lives in operations against Japanese forces in Luzon between 1941 and 1945. There are also graves of 555 civilian contractors who worked for the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, and a separate memorial to the Missing in East Asia, which commemorates Americans who died but whose remains have not been recovered or identified.
The Manila American Cemetery is one of fourteen American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries located in foreign countries. It is administered by the ABMC, an independent agency of the United States government, and is maintained by a staff of 60 full-time employees and 100 regular volunteers. The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial receive more than 200,000 visitors each year.
The cemetery is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the exception of December 25 and January 1. The museum is closed on national holidays in the country where it is located. A cemetery official is on duty in the visitor center to answer inquiries and guide visitors to grave and monument locations when the cemetery is open to the public. For admittance to the cemetery, you must present a valid picture ID.