View source for Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial

{{Short description|American military cemetery in Italy}}
{{Infobox military memorial
|name         = Sicily–Rome {{nowr|American Cemetery and Memorial}}
|body         = [[American Battle Monuments Commission]]
|image        = Sicily-Rome American military Cemetery in Nettuno near Anzio.jpg
|upright      = 1.3
|caption      = Headstones at the cemetery
|commemorates = American casualties of [[World War II]]
|established  = {{start date|1944|01|24|df=y}}
|dedicated    = 1956
|designer     = {{ubl|Murphy & Locraft (monument)|Allyn R. Jennings (landscaping)}}
|coordinates  = {{coord|41|27|55|N|12|39|30|E|type:landmark_region:IT|display=inline,title}}
|nearest_town = [[Nettuno]], [[Lazio]], Italy
|total        = 7,858
|source       = {{Official website|https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/sicily-rome-american-cemetery}}
}}
'''Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial''' is a World War II American military [[war grave]] cemetery, located in [[Nettuno]], near [[Anzio]], Italy. The cemetery, containing 7,858 American war dead, covers {{convert|77|acre|ha|abbr=on}} and was dedicated in 1956. It is administered by the [[American Battle Monuments Commission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/sicily-rome-american-cemetery |title=Sicily–Rome American Cemetery |author=American Battle Monuments Commission |website=abmc.gov |access-date=26 February 2019 }}</ref>
==History and design==
The cemetery was established in [[Nettuno]], as a temporary battlefield cemetery on 24 January 1944, two days after [[Operation Shingle]] began, the Allied landings at [[Anzio]] and Nettuno on mainland Italy.<ref>[http://www.comune.nettuno.roma.it/pagina677_cimitero-americano.html Cimitero Americano], City of Nettuno.</ref>
The majority of burials at the cemetery are of men that died fighting in the liberation of [[Sicily]], code-named [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Operation Husky]] (10 July to 17 August 1943); in the landings at the [[Salerno]], code-named [[Allied invasion of Italy|Operation Avalanche]] (9 September 1943) and the heavy fighting northward; and the landings, code-named [[Operation Shingle]], at Anzio and Nettuno and expansion of the beachhead (22 January 1944 to May 1944); and in air and naval support in the regions.
==Layout==
The cemetery covers {{convert|77|acre|ha|abbr=on}} with a gentle slope rising from a pool with an island and [[cenotaph]] flanked by groups of [[Italian cypress]] trees. Beyond the pool is the immense field of headstones of 7,861 of American military war dead, arranged in gentle arcs on broad green lawns beneath rows of pine trees.
A wide central mall leads to the memorial, rich in works of art and architecture, expressing America's and Italy's remembrance of the dead. It consists of a chapel to the south, a peristyle, and a map room to the north. On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The map room contains a bronze relief map and four fresco maps depicting the military operations in Sicily and Italy. At each end of the memorial are ornamental Italian gardens.
There is a wall of remembrance commemorating 3.095 missing in action service personnel (rosettes denote those later found or identified).
In May 2014, a visitors' center was opened. The center displays photographs, films, and displays of the Allied advance in Sicily and Italy as well as personal stories of those involved.
==Notable burials==
* [[Medal of Honor]] recipients
** [[Sylvester Antolak]] (1916–1944{{KIA}}), for action at the [[Anzio Beachhead]]
** [[Robert T. Waugh]] (1919–1944{{KIA}}), for action at the [[Gustav Line]] in Lazio, Italy
* Others
** [[Henry T. Waskow]] (1918-1943{{KIA}}), killed at the [[battle of San Pietro Infine|Battle of San Pietro]].
** [[Max Brand]] (1892–1944{{KIA}}}, war correspondent and author, killed at [[Lazio, Italy]]
** Allen Tupper Brown (1916–1944{{KIA}}), killed near Campoleone.  Brown was the stepson of U.S. Army Chief of Staff General [[George C. Marshall]].
==Papal commemoration==
[[Pope Francis]] visited the cemetery on [[All Soul's Day]], Thursday, 2 November 2017, in a brief papal visit to the area for the commemoration, where he toured the cemetery grounds and placed flowers on some grave headstones, including an unknown soldier, and Italian-American soldier, and a Jewish soldier. Afterwards, in purple, as is custom for the day, he celebrated Mass and preached a homily at the cemetery. Following the visit there, he moved on to the site of the [[Ardeatine massacre]], named for the forested area in which it took place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2017/11/02/0756/01637.html |title=Celebrazione della Santa Messa al Cimitero Americano di Nettuno |website=vatican.va |date=2 November 2017 |access-date=26 February 2019 }}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of cemeteries in Italy]]
* [[List of national cemeteries by country]]
* [[Military history of Italy during World War II]]
* [[Military history of the United States during World War II]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Sledge |first=Michael |title=Soldier Dead: How We Recover, Identify, Bury, and Honor Our Military Fallen |year=2005 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0231509374 |pages=208, 210|oclc= 60527603 }}
==External links==
{{commons category|Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial}}
* [https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/sicily-rome-american-cemetery "Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial"], [[American Battle Monuments Commission]]
* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}
{{USGovernment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021014527/http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/sr.php|archive-date=2008-10-21|url=http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/sr.php|title=Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial|agency=American Battle Monuments Commission}}
{{American Battle Monuments Commission}}
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[[Category:1940s establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1944]]
[[Category:American Battle Monuments Commission]]
[[Category:Burials in Lazio]]
[[Category:World War II cemeteries in Italy]]
[[Category:World War II memorials in Italy]]